Want to go camping?

I have head this phrase from CJ for the past month, "Mommy, do you want to go camping?" (last word whispered) Well we had blocked out two weekends this summer that we would take the boys camping. The first got passed up due to Ben's travel for work. We decided the Ward Campout could fill in, and serve as a trial run for a solo family trip.

We started out with Me packing up our trunk with all our camp supplies while Ben flew home from Pittsburg. I even managed to haul our huge, insanely heavy tent up the stairs and into the trunk. I only pulled like 5 muscles! As soon as Ben got home, we headed up.

We were one of the first families to arrive, so we tried to pick a nice spot away from most people. The boys explored while Ben got everything settled. I had just purchased a new little sleeping bag for CJ, so he would not be in the bed with us this year. The kids explored their surroundings and had fun in the dirt and water.

We enjoyed a great dinner with the ward, conversation with friends, and some dodgeball! B was really into it, and played for a couple hours! As darkness fell, we sat by the fire and enjoyed some marshmellows. Some great people from the ward brought glow sticks for the little kids to enjoy (and for the parent's to help keep track of them in the dark) However, since Ben had been up since 4 a.m., and the kids hadn't napped, we were ready to turn in.

We all changed and got snuggled into our tent, and this is when our camping adventure took a turn south. First of all, we were now surrounded by more tents. That's okay, and to be expected, but we were hoping for a little more peace and quite. But no, the other kids in the ward were hyped up and having fun, with no plans to call it quits any time soon. B and CJ kept yelling at the kids to be quiet. I even walked over to a group of little guys to politely ask them to stop screaming at the top of their lungs.

About an hour after we turned in, others did too, and it looked like we might get some needed rest. Well, there were lots of little ones at this ward campout who didn't seem to enjoy it very much. There were sounds of babies crying coming from all over the camp. I felt for the parents, been there, done that. That noise quieted down after another hour, and then all the little snores started coming from other tents. I just had to laugh. B was asleep, and Ben was too, and little CJ finally drifted off. I was just lying in my sleeping bag, looking at the stars and being serranaded by snores. Then after about an hour of sleep, I heard B whimpering. He had fallen out of his sleeping bag and was cold. I told him to come in and snuggle next to me. I tried to drift back to sleep, but about another hour later, CJ started to cry. He had wiggled out of his bag, and was cold as well. I knudged Ben to grab him and put him in the bag with us. Here were the 4 of us in a HUGE tent, all trying to sleep on a queen size air mattress. IT DIDN'T WORK!! CJ started crying, and told Ben, "Daddy, get out of here." Ben, in his frustration, got out of the sleeping bag and got into CJ's sleeping bag. A little Lightning McQueen bag that came up to his thigh. He laid down on the twin mattress and tried to sleep.

After being awake for most of the night, I also tried to sleep. But without my main source of heat (Ben) I was really cold in the sleeping bag. I tried to pull both boys next to me, but that only warmed the top half of my body. I shivered myself to sleep finally, only to awaken to the sun shining in the tent about 2 hours later.

When the boys woke up, they were so happy! I sat up and looked over to see the pitiful sight of my husband trying to sleep on a tiny airmattress, in an even smaller sleeping bag. I just couldn't help laughing. B started laughing and said to me, "Mom, this is the greatest day of my life!" Really? I had different feelings about the experience.

I finally got the courage to brave the brisk cold of the morning to get out of the bag and get ready to leave. It didn't take long for us to eat and clean up. We were in the car and headed home by 9:30. We got home and showered and all tried to take a quick nap. We needed to head out by 2:30 for my nephew's baptism in Draper. When I woke up, the power was off, and my hair was still wet! I tried to get things ready to go, and when the power came on finished getting ready to leave. As I was doing my hair, CJ walked into the bathroom and said to me, "Hey mommy, do you want to go camping?" Oddly enough, I really do want to go again!