You know what they say; while mommy is away the kids will play.... Well, while Karin was on her cruise with Becky the kids and I decided to hit the woods for our first camping trip of the year. It continues to amaze me how much planning time is required for a couple days of "roughing" it - I swear it took 5 hrs of prep time to get ready for one weekend camping trip!
We got to Lake Norman State Park on Friday around lunchtime - Bruce and Strider showed up shortly thereafter. We had lunch (Harris Teeter Subs), set up camp, and the kids (Strider, Ellie, and Ava) played at the beach located at the end of the trail behind our camp site on Lake Norman till dinner. That night we feasted on what must have been the best camping dinner EVER - marinated pork tenderloin - cooked to perfection on the awesome camp stove that the Duecer's got me for Christmas this past year. We did fresh blueberry pancakes on saturday morning, dogs for lunch, burgers for dinner, and then sausage, eggs, peppers, and potatoes for breakfast on Sunday - we ate GOOD.
Branson did really well on his third camping trip - he spent most of the weekend in his backpack on my back or on the ground watching the activity around him. However I think his favorite time was spent playing pacifier basketball in the tent - he loved having me throw paci's in this pouch in the tent then he would get them and bring them back to me for another round - quite fun. He took all his naps in the pack n play in the tent just like he was at home - I was blown away by how good he did (the battery powered noise machine helped to make it feel more like his room I think) and he only gave me trouble on Sat night for about 15 minutes. The girls who were exhaused had given him about 20 glow sticks while I was out cleaning up camp before bed. So I come in the tent to see him surrounded by green, red, and yellow glowing light with wide and VERY AWAKE eyes at 11 PM. Let's just say he did not like it when I "turned out the lights" and laid in my cot next to his bed. He kept leaning over the blanket covered side of the pack n play peering into the dark knowing we were all in the tent with him. The next morning Todd commented that Branson sounded pretty mad last night. Hmmm...guess those tent walls don't stop much noise considering Todd was two spots away :)
As much work as camping is, it is more than worth it. Love the precious moments spent with the kids during our realitively simplistic weekend of eating, playing, and laying around. Definitely some of my favorite times all year round. Plus I remember how much I loved camping (especially when my grandpas would come) and I get very excited about cultivating time that my kids are going to look back on with very fond memories. But hey, who needs a memory if you have a DVD?? Check out the below movie for all the fun!!!!
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What fun! We are sad we didn't come to visit this year!!! I loved Branson's Tarheel shirt!!! Hi to the crew!
ReplyDeleteThree comments for you Drescher1) Nice packing job on fitting all that stuff in the car behind the kids. 2) Next time you make a family video, you may not want to include songs about Mary Jane...but that's just me : )3) Do we get the use of that fine stove for our trip?
ReplyDeleteI didn't see that memory foam pillow. Did you already lose it to Karin?
ReplyDeleteI would never risk the memory foam pillow by taking it to the woods! I store it in an environmentally controlled bubble during the day and only take it out when I sleep on it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a GREAT vidoe of the camping trip!! You captured it well! Even the result of the sugar overload plus sleep deprivation!
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