Camping Do’s and Don’ts

July 25, 2008

Camping. Three children under 5. Two nights in the mountains. Here’s what I’ve learned.

DON’T:

1. Don’t cook a marshmallow on a twig. It won’t work.

 

2. Don’t forget the S’mores ingredients. Otherwise you pay big $$$ to buy them from the camp worker people. ($2 for a bag of marshmallows?! Sheesh.)

 
3. Don’t bring the air matress with a huge leak. (frowny) Bring the one w/o the huge leak.

(The big black thing in the background, by the way, is a solar charger. LOVE IT! Costco, $100.)

 

4. Don’t set up a cool castle tent (Thanks, Kate!) w/o bringing friends for your kids to play in it with.

 

5. Don’t try to cook scrambled eggs/bacon as a tin foil breakfast without non-stick spray. (Oops)

 

6. Don’t be downwind of the bathrooms. (Devin, are you poopy again? No? You sure? Okay, Evan? Nope. Then what IS that smell?…)

 

DO:

1. Reserve a spot. Especially if you’re camping over a holiday weekend. Which we were. (Happy Pioneer Day everyone!)

 

2. Go somewhere beautiful.
     

 

3. Have more than one way to cook your food. (Good thing we didn’t learn this one the hard way!)

 

4. Make sure there’s running water nearby – the streams & waterfalls were a highlight.

 

5. Pack clothes you don’t mind getting trashed.

 
 
6. Go exploring! Who knows what you’ll find?
We found a log over a stream. My favorite!!! I went first to make sure it was steady, then helped the kids along.
They were so brave! We were happy to tromp around on the other side of the stream.
I know it looks like you could just walk across on the rocks, but you couldn’t really. At least, the kids couldn’t. Not without getting royally wet, which we were hoping to avoid.
7. Be happy and have fun!

Me: "Hey! I thought I was supposed to have more time! It said 2x the time...

"Oh, it meant it would take TWO pictures..."

Got it.

Favorite Things:
Devin’s favorite thing: Playing in the sleeping bags.

Cinderella's favorite thing: When she sucked her thumb in one of our family shots. (Thanks cousin Audrey... She loves to be like you!)

 

Mommy's favorite thing: Chipmunks. Okay, maybe not my very favorite thing. But they are dang cute and I wanted to post a picture.

 

 Daddy’s favorite thing: Devin was supposed to be going to sleep; Daddy stealthily sneaked up and saw what he was doing through the window of our tent. He had a sock on each hand and was singing a song (about a duck who goes to see a turkey) – and acting it out like his socks were puppets. Sorry we don’t have a picture of it. A camera flash would not have been stealthy.

He did eventually go to sleep.

3 Responses to “ Camping Do’s and Don’ts ”

  1. The Pali's on July 25, 2008 at 10:35 pm

    Looks like you guys had fun. I want to go camping so bad. We go every year with Ben’s family but, of course, they had to plan it during a time Ben couldn’t take any work off. Stinks, but I’m glad you guys had fun :)

  2. Jenny on July 27, 2008 at 1:50 am

    Looks like so much fun – I wish we’d been able to join you up there. I’d better tell Audrey to shape up since she’s turning out to be quite the example!

  3. Smith Fam on July 28, 2008 at 3:13 am

    LOL… We thought it was so funny, and so did she. :) I’m glad they got to play a little this weekend. :) Hopefully we’ll be able to get together again soon!

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