The Honest Truth: what it's REALLY like to camp with kids

When I hear people say things like, "You are such an amazing mom!" and "It's so great that you do all those things with your kids!" I cringe a little inside, because I know the truth.  I know the ugly, un-photographed truth. I want to give you, dear reader, an honest look at what it's like outside of Instagram and Facebook. I'm going to let you be a fly on the wall or rather a mosquito at our campsite.

I recently took my kids plus my nephew on an overnight camping trip to White River Campground on the the east side of Mt. Rainier.  It's a place we love dearly and a short drive to an amazing sunrise view of the mountain. I wanted to do this trip 'car camping, the light way'. Which, in my mind, means no camp box filled with everything I don't usually use but would come in handy if I needed it, no lanterns, no fancy cooked meals, no swimming apparatus, no camp kitchen etc. I told my kids they were responsible to pack what they needed to sleep comfortably, clothes, a backpack with enough water for the next day's hike and that's it, I would take care of the rest. Now we've gone camping so many times and as they have grown older I make them be responsible for more and more of their own needs, so I figured they could handle it.

I shopped for the bare minimum as far as food goes, plus enough snacks/goodies to keep them happy on the trail. (Fed kids are happy kids....usually) Then I set to work with the boys packing our Yakima cargo box with chairs, sleeping bags, a small foldable stove and a few other necessities. We packed our large blue container of water, the food bag and cooler, all of our backpacks, pillows, etc.

Well, it's sounds like it all went quite smoothly doesn't it? What I haven't mentioned yet is while I was busy packing this kid sat playing on the Xbox, this kid fought with that kid, this one whined about not having any clean clothes, this one was nowhere to be found, that one was Snap-chatting with friends....just as one would appear to be ready to go they would disappear and then I'd find out they had no backpack..or shoes..or sleeping bag. So then I'd stop what I was doing and help them only to find two others laughing at funny videos on Youtube, which would be fine if they were already packed and had helped me get ready to leave.

So by now, my head is about to explode and most, but not all, of the kids have an attitude like I'm forcing them to live in a labor camp and like it! Everything in me should be saying, 'Why don't you just change plans and take them to the lake instead, you know there'd be less complaining.' but what everything inside of me is actually saying, and it's true, is, 'I know they'll be happy and grateful once we are there, we just need to get on the road!!!'

When my kids were little and I did EVERYTHING, it was, in a sense, easier. They got to be excited about a grand adventure and I did all the work. Now getting them to carry their own work load is like pulling teeth! The same thoughts that are there nearly every time we do something fun started creeping into my mind, "WHY?!! Why do I even bother?!!" But immediately the answers take their place, 'Because it's good for them, because they need to unplug, because even with all the complaining, they love it.'

So now we supposedly had everything packed. Once we were loaded up I ran back into the house and filled an insulated bottle with Coke Zero and a swig (or two) of Whipped Vodka and stuck that into the cooler. Before I reached the van, I could hear the fighting. "It's MY day in the front!" "I'm NOT sitting back there with YOU!" Trying to keep my cool, I told everyone where they were sitting and didn't allow for negotiations. We drove in silence. I'm sure I said some not so nice things that experts would say will scar my kids for life. But it was silent.

Traffic. Was. Bad.

What should have taken us an hour and a half took us two and a half hours and, of course, by the time we reached the campsite, we were all famished. I told the kids we had to find a campsite and set up camp, then I would get out the food.

The campground wasn't full, but many of the good spots were taken. In a stroke of good luck, however, we found a great site with lots of space and privacy and was close to the bathroom. We set to work setting up the tents. I gave the girls the job of setting out the chairs and start searching for firewood. Both tents went up fast, sleeping space was being claimed and then I saw it...

On a small post that was hidden by our van was a white tag. It was the pay stub that stated the site had already been claimed. I had to break the news to the kids and tell them we needed to move.  We feared that at any second a car would pull up with the night's tenants of our stolen campsite. I frantically looked around for nearby sites and much to my relief, the one right next to it was available, and it was also very nice, if not roomier. The girls and I literally picked up the tents fully set up and I hauled ours around the van onto the street and into it's new location. The boys took their larger one through the woods. I was proud of them, they worked together and got it done with minimal grumbling.

Come to terms with the tent situation

Drama has a name and it is ********. One of my daughters decided she wanted her own tent and couldn't see how the three of us girls could fit into my lightweight three person backpacking tent. I suggested she sleep in the van, because I didn't pack another tent. When the boys heard the conversation they hounded her in their brotherly way and she stormed off into the woods. I knew she was wanting me to follow after her and hear her out, but I also knew she needed to blow off steam, so I let her go. Now, I was irritated and had to cook dinner. Right before we left home I told Sam we should probably bring another canister of propane, then I changed my mind. Well, we ran out of propane just as I got the burgers in the cast iron pan. Sam got the fire going pretty fast and we ended up cooking them over the flames. Oh, by the way the container of burgers that looked like it could hold 8...it had four patties. Four patties for seven people.

So we ate our dinner of burgers, chips and....oh ya, that's it. Burgers and chips, I even forgot the ketsup.

When 'drama' still hadn't come back Hunter, who has always had a knack for talking to the one on the outs, found her and convinced her to join the family. Within five minutes she was eating dinner and smiling. The rest of the evening went relatively well. Three of the four boys forgot sleeping pads, Ben didn't even bring his sleeping bag, so they got to learn the hard way why they need to be responsible for themselves. Luckily they were all in one tent and kept warm by sharing blankets.

Happy Camper

Holding pieces of Rainier's history

Sunrise Point vista...Mt. Adams in the background

Oh, if we could all look as good as Rainier first thing in the morning!

 We attended the Ranger's Campfire talk about the history of Mt. Rainier, then kept the fire going and played our favorite camping game, Psychiatrist. As the coals died down we hit the sack and fell fast asleep.

My alarm went off at 4:30 so we could pack up and be up at Sunrise Point by 5:30 to watch the sunrise. I was so warm and comfortable though that I kept pressing snooze. Finally at 5, I started waking everyone up. The boys were up, dressed and packed in no time. Hunter, who would sleep until noon if I let him, said getting up was better than freezing in the tent. The girls took a little longer to get moving, but we were all in the van by 5:20 am with plans to eat where we park while we watched the beautiful sunrise.

We drove the winding road, up, up and up. The view widening and lightening as we rose. The sun was beating us to the mountain, but the scenery was quite the sight to behold. On our way up we saw a herd of at least 10-15 elk grazing in a lush meadow. We arrived at Sunrise Point as the Mountain blushed rose from the rising sun. I parked and we got out to take in our surroundings. There was a chill in the air but it was bearable.

Hot chocolate is a great way to start the day!

As we enjoyed the sunrise, I made hot chocolate for the kids and coffee for myself by heating up water in my MiniMo Jetboil. After eating Pop tarts, the kids were ready to go! There were a few people at the parking lot taking pictures, but nobody was hiking except for us. 

The trail started off heading downhill into the shade of the trees. It was a steady downhill and I kept thinking, "This is nice, but this will also be the end of our hike...a steady climb." Cecelia had a million things to say and, lost in conversation, she took a misstep and had a major belly flop on a downhill trail. This was early on in the hike and set the mood for the next couple of miles. Teary and sore from her fall, she fell silent for awhile. The four boys hurried ahead and Izzy journeyed back and forth between them and Cecelia and I. The wildflowers were a sight to behold. When your teenage son stops to stoop down and photograph a wildflower you know you made the right choice to bring them along no matter the struggle.

Looking down on the first of many lakes.

The mosquitos were a nuisance and they were very attracted to poor Cece for whatever reason, but because they liked her so much they pretty much left me alone. I felt bad for her though, she was constantly swatting at the suckers and at one point they had her in quite a tizzy. 

I don't know what it was about this trail, or maybe it was the hot cocoa, but almost every kid had stomach issues and needed to stop to poop along the way! I gave them a minimal amount of mountain money (T.P.) and told them to make sure to dig their hole before going. Cece was the only one that needed assistance and she had to go at least three times! So it was a slow go, but once that was over we were able to enjoy the trail and all it had to offer. This trail passed by at least five lakes before our final destination came into view, Upper Palisade Lake. We had been here before in early September but the lake was so much smaller   then that we were able to walk right to the boulders on the far side. This time we had to find/make a trail through the woods until we came to the enormous boulder field. This was where we planned on having lunch and exploring for a bit. Many years ago there was a major rock fall and now rocks the size of small homes provided cave-like exploration, fantastic boulder hopping opportunities and dream homes to many marmots. 

Right off the bat, the boys found the largest rocks and challenged themselves to jump from one to another. I let them be boys and do their thing in spite of my motherly instinct that made me want to warn them of all the dangers involved in what they were doing. I enjoyed nature in the same way with my friends when I was their age, although usually without my mother there to tell me to be careful...and I survived. They played for a good hour before they even thought about food. Meanwhile, the girls and I explored the cave-like areas and climbed high to get even better views of the emerald green lake. From where we climbed we could see the mountains stretch before us forever and the lake sparkle in the morning sun, the boys looked like ants and we were joined by marmots and hummingbirds.

first switchback

breaking for snacks in the morning light

hiking a meadow next to one of the many lakes

the "caves"

Boulder hopping

for perspective, Sam contemplating life on lg. boulder

Rock with a view.

The boys from where we were perched way up high looked tiny as ants.

I was irritated that I couldn't get a clear shot from where I was, but after seeing this picture, I was pretty amazed at this combination of sun and lens.

After playing, exploring and relaxing we headed down, or up to the rocks from different directions and met at the lake. This wasn't without incident, however. Isabelle was slipping on the rocks and scraping herself left and right. She just about lost it and decided then and there she was done. Even after reaching the lake the complaining continued. 

  The day had warmed up quite a bit and most of us were excited to take our boots and socks off and stick our feet in the water. Oh, but we had forgotten how cold alpine lakes can be!! The most we could do at first is have competitions to see who could hold their feet in the longest. After eating, they began to play by the shore. Before I knew it and after warnings of "Don't get your boots soaked!" several kids fell in, including Cecelia who had her second or third meltdown of the day. This is one moment where I was impressed with one of my kids preparedness. Isabelle packed an entire change of clothes and charitably offered them to Cecelia. After changing into dry clothes she mellowed out. Isabelle's act of kindness brought her cheerful attitude back and she was all smiles the rest of the day.

Several of the boys by this time had stripped down to their boxers and hesitated on the edge of a rock trying to muster up the courage to jump in. My nephew, Vincent, had also ended up with wet boots and clothes so he found a large rock to change behind. At the same time that Samuel splashed into the  icy cold lake, Vincent began howling in pain from his hidden location. My heart dropped and I ran as quickly as possible to where he was. He had fallen while trying to see Sam jump and ended up scraping his back, ankles, wrists and hands. I gave First Aid to his most serious scrapes and decided it was time to go. All the while, now Ben and Sam were in and out of he lake jumping in and swimming while trying to catch their breath.

I rounded everyone up but it still took a good 20 minutes to leave as everyone dried off, put on wet boots and gathered their stuff. We had 3.5 miles to hike back still.

The great thing about the Upper Palisades Trail is there are amazing views without too much up and down. The greatest elevation change is in the beginning (now for us, the end) of the trail. The way back was uneventful other than me trying my hardest to motivate the injured and the weary. Many times we would think, "Oh the car is right up there!" Only to realize we had another switchback to traverse. The climbs seemed so much longer than the descents seemed earlier that day. We still took time to enjoy and take in the awesome scenery all around us, best of all the welcome back view of Mt. Rainier, which, though so close, was quite evasive during the day. We arrived back to the van by 12:30 pm.  It just so happened that the day was July 11th. 7/11. Free Slurpie day at 7eleven. We stopped on the way home. 

Having a hard time smiling after falling in the cold water.

What I've realized over the years is that the stress, the anguish, the frustration, even the injuries and weariness...all the negative aspects of taking the kids camping and hiking are memories that sift through their minds like sand in a strainer. What remains are the heftier memories of adventure, scenery, overcoming challenges and time spent together. I know, without a doubt, that we will continue to explore, I will continue to get frustrated when everything and everybody doesn't work together in perfect harmony, but I will continue to cherish those moments when they do.

Pre-emersion

Boots drying in the sun.

open meadow with Palisade Rocks as a backdrop

Slurpie's make everyone happy.

Rainier welcomes us back.

It's Summer....and Pouring Down Rain.

We are eight days into our summer vacation from school. One whole week was quite warm and on Sam's birthday I had the sprinkler going just to give the kids something to cool off with. Now, into the the second week, it's not just raining outside, but it's raining cats and dogs. The kids are at their dad's, it's late evening, and the sound of the downpour all together make for the perfect recipe of creative juices flowing strongly enough to entice me to pick up my writing again.

Looking back on my blog, I realize that Thanksgiving was my last post! What happened, was life. Between mothering and teaching and the blurry line that exists between the two, the desire to put my thoughts into words lost out to the desire to put my thoughts to rest. The truth is teaching young students takes a LOT out of me creatively and when I got home on a school day, my brain needed to go to sleep. This is why the kids and I live for summertime!

I realize my life is changing rapidly and I am trying to not only figure out how to deal with the changes but to relish them as well. One big change is my oldest, Samuel, has graduated from Eighth Grade at St. Mary's and as I try to figure out where his best option for high school is, I struggle with the idea of,  "What if I make the wrong choice for him?"

On the other end of the spectrum, Cecelia is seven years old now and doesn't need me to help her go to the bathroom in the early morning hours while we are camping anymore. This may seem like a strange thing to some, but it was an eye-opening moment for me when, in the cold morning air, before anyone else was awake, she announced to me that she was going to go to the bathroom. Now, we were tent camping at my sister and brother-in-laws property and the only facilities was the "tent toilet" hole in the ground. I asked if she needed me to go with her (secretly hoping I didn't have to crawl out of my warm sleeping bag) and she said, "No." With that, she was unzipping the tent, zipped it back up after herself, and was gone.

In my half conscience state of morning grogginess, so many past camping trips flashed before my eyes. All the times, of her sleeping with me, waking me up to go to the bathroom not only at the crack of dawn, but all hours of the night. The nights of nursing her to sleep and ever so gently lying her down so I could sneak back to the campfire. The nights of lying her down in our tent and worrying whether or not I would hear her if she woke up. The pictures of her sleeping cuddled up next to her cousin or her sister. The night of her getting sick all over me, all over the bed, all over the trailer. Those days are in the past as she gets more and more independant every day.

I smiled to myself as I heard her zip the tent up behind her. How easy my life was now! I miss my babies, but I want to freeze them in the age they are right now.

After I got up that day we were camping, as we stood around the morning fire to warm ourselves, I mentioned to Cecelia how proud I was of her for being able to take care of herself. That was when I found that she didn't make it to the toilet tent. She thought the tent shed used for sheltering tools to clear the land was the bathroom and popped a squat in there....without toilet paper.  Her older cousin ended up having to burry her waste.

So, yes, my kids are growing up fast, but to my satisfaction they still need my guidance and I hope to always lead them in the right direction...whatever that may be.

My favorite thing is to see my children snuggled together.

Hiking then....

a little later....

Hiking now!

and now with the boys....I'm the one lagging behind.

Times Speeds Up as We Slow Down

We left an hour later than planned, which was just about right. The kids were well fed as I locked the door to the house without that nagging feeling that I was forgetting something important. We needed to make one stop for gas, ice and propane. This turned into three stops....for gas, ice and propane; each place I stopped at had one but not the others. Finally we were on our way. The morning sun was shining gloriously bright and it gave me an energy that pushed me on in spite of my kids never failing desire to bicker in the car. If there is anyone out there with two or more kids that has discovered the key to preventing siblings from fighting in the car, I would love to know your secret!


The two hour drive to Packwood, a small town just south of Mt. Rainier in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, was pleasant (after the initial war of words between my children). We drove through the logging town of Morton, into the tiny town of Randle where we stopped for a snack and potty break; our destination was just 20 minutes away but sometimes these things just cannot wait. \


After being jolted relentlessly by the potholes that marred the gravel forest roads, we arrived to our campsite to find a roaring fire, several tents and Mike and Tina's trailer already set up. Tina had yet to arrive with two of their girls, but Mike and their other five children, and my brother, sister-in-law and their two boys had been camping since the evening prior.


We pulled in, opened the van doors and like magic....my children disappeared! I wish I could say that my ten and eight-year-old spent some time helping me unpack and set up camp...but that wasn't the case, they literally disappeared into the woods with their cousins. This, in a way, was a bigger help to me than anything else. I was able to take my time setting up without running over one of them or beckoning to their every whim.


Once we had the tent up, and the kitchen area arranged to my liking....the kids were asking to eat. It was to be the first time I got to use our new Browning two burner range. It was, however, Friday and, as Catholics, we had to forgo meat. As easily, easier actually, than if I had been at home, I folded shredded Mexican blend cheese into a tortilla to make quesadillas and fried it over the griddle....times fifteen. It was a perfect lunch that was gobbled down by overly hungry campers. Then I got to do what I had been longing to do for a long time.....I sat.


I sat around the fire, closed my eyes, and relaxed. Then I became more active...I read a little, and observed the activity of those around me. The forest around us watched the kids, as well as the bugs that entertained them and the six inch deep creek nearby that they wanted so desperately to play in, but found the glacial water to be too painfully numbing.


For supper we enjoyed foil packets of shrimp, salmon, calamari, and scallops cooked with fresh zucchini over the fire. I've said it before....I generally eat better when living in the woods than at my own home! That evening, all the kids entertained us with skits, poems, jokes and songs that they had practiced at home or put together in a matter of minutes. My favorite skit was put on by the boys and went as follows:

Donovan to Samuel: "That's a nice shirt, where'd you get it?"
Samuel: "J.C. Penny"
Donovan to Thomas: "Those are nice shoes, where'd you get em?"
Thomas: "J.C. Penny"
Donovan to Hunter: "Those are nice pants, where'd you get em?"
Hunter: "J.C. Penny"
Donovan to Ben (who comes out from behind a tree wearing nothing but his boxers); "Who are you?!!"
Ben: "J.C. PENNY!!"

Yeah, that had us laughing. The sky was still clear as the fire blazed hot. Voices faded as we got lost in our own thoughts...everyone waiting for the first person to claim they were going to bed, so they wouldn't have to be first. We have a big two room tent that could easily fit the six of us,  but Hunter and Ben were excited to stay the night with their big cousin, Donovan....that was until Aunt Tina scared Ben with a scary story about a ghostly voice searching for her golden arm, then he decided he would stay near me. With the girls sound asleep, the boys and I wearily wandered off to the tent. We fell quickly asleep.


Saturday morning we cooked omelets in a Zip-Loc bag submerged in boiling water. A table was set up with cooked bacon pieces, diced ham, sausage crumbles, mushroom, chopped bell peppers, onions, chives, parsley, cilantro, spices and eggs. Each person dictated what they wanted in theirs, squished it around in a baggie with their name on it, and gave to the person manning the pot of boiling water. No dishes, easy clean-up!


We were to be joined that day by my Uncle Tony and Aunt Kim. Tina volunteered to stay at camp with the youngest kids, so from Benjamin on up, the rest of us left to hike to Lake Packwood. It was four-and-a-half miles one way. The trail led us through a moss-covered forest with peek-a-boo views of snow covered mountains. Water leaked here and there from the rocky walls allowing us to cool off every now and then with a cold "shower". The older kids left us in the dust saying they wanted to catch up to Uncle Tony and his party, so seven year olds, Benjamin and Keira, were accompanied by my brother-in-law, Mike, and I.


The trail was cut out of a relatively steep forested mountainside. To the right the mountain was an acute 45 degrees up, and to the left was the opposite angle plunging steeply downhill. Everywhere we hiked we could here the sound of distant rushing water, whether it was an up-and-coming waterfall, or the river down below. The woods were bedecked with pink trillium and white daisies. Giant fallen Douglas fir hinted to us that the forest isn't always as peaceful as it was that day. The temperature was warmer than we had expected, and dressed for cooler weather, we always welcomed the gentle but inconsistent breeze that surprised us when we'd least expected it.


I might add here that Benjamin did not stop talking the entire four and a half miles to the lake. I tried to get him to listen to the sounds of nature that one can only hear when one is silent....but he preferred the sound of his own voice. At some point he found a thin tree branch that curved around like a fishing pole while reeling in the catch of the day....he named it Stringy. Stringy the stick, became his best friend that day. He talked to it....it talked back. For awhile, I wondered if he even remembered I was there. I do believe, however, that it was Stringy's companionship...that got him through the nine miles we hiked that day. After all, since his legs are half the length of mine, I decided him walking nine miles was the equivalent to me walking eighteen miles. What a champ!!


Lake Packwood was a hidden gem! As we approached, the emerald green of its waters showed through the evergreens that still blocked our view. While at the edge of the lake, wonder at God's creation filled me with awe. The large lake was nestled amidst the trees and its clear waters sparkled in the sun. A small island beckoned from the middle of the lake but was only accessible by the birds who were lucky to claim it as home. Large fallen trees became part of the landscape at the edge of the lake and we walked out on them to soak our tired feet in the icy water. It was silent. Still. Beautiful.


After we'd eaten the lunches we'd packed, and rested sufficiently, it was decided to take the forest road that was supposedly shorter and flatter, but still returned to the same location we started. The flatter aspect was questionable right from the start as we were panting out of breath within the first 100 yards from the continuous steepness of the rocky road. But, after awhile, it did straighten out. Then the 'shorter' aspect was questioned as we seemed to be walking forever. Uncle Tony, Ben and I fell behind the pack on account of Ben's short legs. His voice eventually trailed off and his once non-stop
chattering gave way to worried silence. He still carried Stringy, but neither of them were talking now. The views we encountered were well worth the long hike. Glimpses of the mountain in the background were accompanied by the feathery look of endless evergreens stretching for miles and miles below us. Among the trees snaked the curving Cowlitz River.


The only words Ben spoke were, "Stringy is tired, he wants to sit down." I urged him on by telling him to imagine that he'd just walked across the country like Peter Jenkins and all he had left to reach his destination were these last two miles. I told him to imagine that the rest of the group were waiting there to cheer him to the end. I think this imagery might have helped me more than it did him.


We made it though, and the group was waiting to cheer Ben on. It was a great moment. I told him he walked farther than I ever had at his age and his face lit up with confidence.


The rest of the evening we relaxed. I made a pot of jambalaya and Tina cooked hobo stew in tin foil over the fire. She also made candy bar cake in honor of Father's Day. A wave of sadness rushed over me seeing the kids wishing their uncles Happy Father's Day instead of their own dad. With resignation he let me take them camping because he knew it wasn't intentional, me having them on Father's Day. But the fact that life for my children isn't ideal made me retire that evening with a heavy heart.


Before we knew it, we were packing up to head home, then we were home. How can it be that when we participate in an activity such as camping, when we are living simply, slowing down to enjoy the people we love in the places we love, that the time seems to speed up? The weekend flew by, and now we are back to the routine that is our life.


I was asked the other day when describing how much fun the kids had while camping, "And what do you get out of all this?" I get to pause. I get to sit. I get to be in surroundings that take my breath away. I was amazed when my sister and I were sitting around the fire and my nephew came up and out of boredom asked, "Aren't we going to do something?" Our response, "We are doing something!" That's what I love about camping, we get to be doing something, while doing nothing....no excuses necessary.


Happy Days to all,


love,




Gina.



top left: Rosie and Cece putting on their own 'skit'. Top Right and down: Cousins, Keira, Rosie and Cecelia at camp, The boys putting on a skit for the parents, Everyone bows and curtsies, Isabelle and Cecelia at bedtime. Bottom Left: Cecelia at camp, Bottom middle: Isabelle singing a song for entertainment.




Top Left: Ben and Stringy; Top Right and Down: Refreshing myself under mountain spring water, Ben cooling off, Ben and I (and Stringy) at Packwood Lake; Bottom Left: Ben and I on way back from the lake, Bottom Middle: Ben and Uncle Tony (and Stringy)




View of the Cowlitz River from the Packwood Lake trail.



Why I do this.....

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

Well, I am practically breathless right now! Why? Because I spent the last two days, minus the hours at my job, preparing to go camping with five kids. My shoulders ache, my legs feel like rubber...and my eyes burn; partly from the two onions I just chopped, partly from need of sleep.

For one of my wedding showers, the guests all gave us camping gear. It was the best shower because although the outdoors were a passion my future husband and I shared, we lacked all the tools to really enjoy our experiences in the woods. We got a cooler full of camping odds and ends, matching camping pillows, sleeping pads that rolled, and various other "necessities". The only remnants of that shower are the pillows, the pads and the cooler which doesn't close properly and is missing one handle.

The first time we used the equipment was shortly after our marriage. We decided to go camping for Memorial Day weekend and naively thought one could just go find a spot with no real plans and only a general idea of where we wanted to go. We ended up at a horse camp...in the mud....and it snowed on us. We couldn't light a fire because all the wood around us was too damp.  That was then.

For the duration of our marriage our equipment supply grew somewhat here and there. We got a huge tent that I still use and a few more coolers, but we didn't really go camping that often. I think during the time we lived in Reno, we camped maybe five times at the most. It wasn't until I moved back up to Washington alone with the kids that I learned the real 'art' of camping. The key to enjoying a camping trip with kids is being prepared!!! Being Prepared...BEING PREPARED! I can't stress that enough.

As I've said the past two days were full shopping and meal planning (jambalaya, omelets, quesadillas, and raspberry cheesecake are my contributions to the community meals; we tend to eat better while camping than at home). I've been dicing, chopping and mixing food, placing the food in vacuum packed bags or zip-locked containers. I've been packing clothes for six people for 2-3 days with the idea that it might rain; which means extras of everything. We've been gathering our gear from the garage, the attic, and trying to fit everything we'd need to set up 'home away from home' into a mini-van. In the morning I have to pack the cooler, gather the miscellaneous items I remembered we needed, stop to fill up the propane and gas tanks.

"Why do you do this only to return home in 2-3 days, clean and put it all away?" "Sounds like too much work!" These comments I've heard many times. I do it because when we camp, we are together in a unique and intimate way. We can look up and appreciate the universe we are a part of. We can enjoy each other's company more because there is more space in between us. Camping gives us a break from the stresses of daily living. Thoughts of work and housework are not allowed, sitting around a campfire and exploring are the rules of the day.

The van is packed, the kids are sleeping and will rise early with great anticipation. Cheers to the first camping trip of 2012!!


Happy Days to all,

love,


Gina.