Yes, you read that right, FIRST time. I have been camping, as a child, I barely remember it but it was in a 5th wheel type camper I think (don't know my campers, or camping for that matter). Now I have come a long way in going on trips. From my 1st trip with a child, my 1st was 3 months old and bottlefed. It was a 21 hr drive and I made us make reservations to stay over TWICE on the way up. I even sat in the backseat next to her the entire trip (and that's something since I am prone to motion sickness). Just to find out the baby slept the whole way. And then packing? I packed as if we were moving to a 3rd world country.
That was then, this is now. 5 kids, the baby was 10 months old, it wasn't exactly primitive camping but it was a tent. So we start with our large 14'x12' tent, yes I was worried it wouldn't fit at an individual campsite, luckily we had a group site. Add in the jogging stroller I never take on trips because of it's size. A large Rubbermaid full of food, a large cooler, ok we definitely need the topper for the van. I really was trying to conserve though, it was only a 2 night trip so some packed backpacks, others shared their small suitcases. I didn't bring pool toys or floats, just their lifejackets (there was a lake with boating) which could double as floats right?(tell that to my kids) I did bring some balls to play with, the whole medicine cabinet, sunscreen, bug repellant, the obligatory 3 baby carriers (1 for the pool, 1 for me, 1 for daddy) etc. OK I did bring a few air mattresses, hey, I'm 30 something, the floor doesn't cut it at my age. But what did I forget?....
:-D .... toothbrushes. Luckily the drugstore wasn't far.
Day 1---set up camp, play on the playground and eat dinner. OK this is probably only half camping because yes, we had a playground and it was Girl Scouts so someone else cooked a full meal. But honestly, I was dissappointed we didn't get roasted weenies. Call me odd but I love a good partially burnt hot dog, it's my favorite kind. I was surprised everyone went to bed so well with others around making noise, being in a tent, etc. So I got to sit around the campfire with my husband and other grown ups, talking...did I mention I was talking to grown ups...while my 4 youngest slept just feet away and my oldest was out fishing with a friend and some other adults. It was fun.
Day 2---the kids slept in, no I am not crazy, majoritively they slept in, even once people started getting up. I was up, I even felt rested, yet my kids were still sleeping. Then, even when they got up, despite all the stimulation and the later bedtime the night before, Rebecca had a good day (oh man, that reminds me, I didn't give her her medicine today, nothing I can do about it at 5 pm, humph). It was a busy day too. Breakfast again was cooked by someone else. Then we went gem mining. It was fun, but the kids certainly didn't need such large buckets, I thought we'd be there forever. I think 10 minutes would have still made the kids happy and I wouldn't have gotten so bored. Besides Anna only wanted to ride on my back so long before she got down. I am sure we all know what happened when she got down (she wanted to eat the rocks). Then back to the campground for swimming (yes it had a pool too, this is probably sounding less and less like camping), lunch and a nap (not me). Then we headed out to see the caverns. It was fun, but wet, I have been in caverns before but never one that dripped on you constantly. The kids enjoyed it, noone got scared, and Brian even wore Joey in the Ergo. Back to the campground for some boating, playing, dinner and relaxing. Another good day.
Day 3---not so much sleeping in but still rested feeling. Today is the day to pack up. That was not the fun part. Anna would eat grass, dirt and rocks if put down. Brian really needed help with the tent. The rest of the kids were eager to get to the pool. But we did finish. We then really wore ourselves out. The pool, boating, picnic lunch, more boating, more swimming, and some mini golf. I was ready to fall over. Luckily we had a 3 hr car drive to relax. Or at least I thought....definitely read the next post for the much less fun, much more eventful, trip home. As for camping, I don't think I got a real taste of it so I want to go back.
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