We actually really do!
Are you as surprised as I was? Because I sure was caught off guard by this revelation.
It sort of snuck up on me.
Granted, we cheated a little by enjoying most all of our meals with precious friends at a nearby cabin, which eliminated the tedious task of planning, packing and preparing meals, tent-side. Maybe it’s not quite cheating. Maybe it’s simply wisdom. Please, stifle your snickering, I’m reasoning with myself. This was, after all, our first time camping with little loin fruit in tow, and I am, admittedly, a little unsure of sleeping outdoors in a large, fabric dome without running water directly nearby, with anyone under the age of 5. Okay, 10. Fine, 18. Surrounded by other people doing exactly the same thing.
Am I weird?
Don’t answer that.
I digress.
Camping food…maybe next year we’ll take that on, when we’re crazier braver and the kids are less all consuming older. Or who knows, maybe next month we’ll give it a whirl…seeing my husband decided we should do this crazy camping thing again soon.
And I’m so totally in! I think this camping thing could really grow on me.
I’m sorry it took me so long to declare that nugget of discovery to you {thanks for the concern, sweet Linda…we are alive and well!!}, between the choice to stay an extra day…yay!…and the broken modem and minor case of food poisoning upon our return…booo!…I just haven’t had the chance to unpack my brain. Until now.
And now it’s gushing. Unfiltered. Unspell-checked. Uninspired. Exhausted.
Bear with me {and pretend my photographs actually make up for the complete lack of practical wisdom and intellectual prowess within this post}
We spent a lot of time soaking up the surprisingly delightful weather on the west coast, and have the freshly crisped flesh to prove it {thankfully we own a happy aloe plant that is growing as fast as we use it}.
Our kiddos so enjoyed the ridiculous amount of sand, sun, water, ice pops and ice cream they experienced while on vacation. Five additional adults to cuddle and entertain them were quite a welcomed bonus, too!
We were so blessed to have been able to spend this time with 2 of our favorite couples {the young man has been my hubby’s best friend for over a decade now, and was our best man in our wedding, and his dad has been my hubby’s spiritual father for as long…we adore this precious family!}
We ate like Kings, taking turns to provide a meal {I’m talking baked brie, fresh bean & corn salsa, grilled chicken & steak, freshly tossed salads, baked taters…the works!}. Not the caliber of food you would expect when the word ‘camping’ is scribbled on the calendar, but a lavish spread I could easily get used to!
We went for a ride of a friend’s boat, played on the jet-ski (photos to come), napped in the sunshine…
met a local State Police family for ice-cream, toasted marshmallows, drank coffee while watching the sun set…
…watched our little ones run and swim and shriek with laughter as they chased each other with dead fish.
{please attempt to contain your disgust and astonishment}
We even discovered hanky panky is actually possible on an old, ever-deflating air mattress, flanked with children who roll off their beds every 45 minutes. Now that’s what I call talent! {Ahem}
In short: it was delightful!
And the best part is…it can only get better from here!
As we walked around the campsite that first day, watching families and friends gather around fire pits with their campers decked out with pretty lanterns and ‘Welcome’ signs, we couldn’t help but smile at the thought of bringing our kids back there, year after year…watching them grow and explore and take ownership of a tradition that is sure to cultivate delightful layers of friendship, adventure and connectedness in our little family.
Indeed, it is true…we’re quite sure we love camping!
