So I'm almost two months behind. At least I'm trying to catch up on the bigger activities, right?
We haven't done a lot of camping, but with one last summer weekend, we, with Dunahees and two newer families in the ward, the Brooks (our awesome home teacher and his wonderful wife that's the YW secretary) and the Eimans, decided to go camping. We knew Labor Day weekend would be busy so as soon as we found a spot available for us, we booked them. I think it was about three weeks early because places fill up fast.
Eric got off work a little early on Thursday and we headed out. We were the only ones in that whole loop the first night. The loop was very small, with little foliage to make the sites private. We became good friends with the little kids on the backside of us, having a trip with their grandparents.
Anyway, even though it was small, it was nice to be able to let the kids just play. We had our new tent (Eric said he wasn't going to camp anymore in our 10 year old tent. It leaks and we'd out grown it) set up on the gravel bottom by eight o'clock. This wasn't going to be comfortable. Oh well!
I woke up at 2 am due to thunder rolling in and couldn't really get back to sleep. By 2:30 - 3:00 is was pouring rain. Eric also woke up. I was cold and there was some water coming through some of the seams. I guess even a new tent can only take so much pounding. That plus the ground, neither Eric or I got a decent night sleep.
The next morning, the kids continued to play with the dirt, small rocks and twigs, making fairy houses and taj mahal's in the "driveway" of our campsite.
This non-electrical loop didn't have showers or flushing toilets. The first time Nate, maybe it was Graigry, had to go to the bathroom, I told them it was a pit toilet. Maybe they had come with me once or got the idea with my description. I told the poor child that the option was the toilet here or wait. "I'll wait 'til we get home." "Four days? We don't go home until Monday, buddy. You have to use these potties." Neta was scared she was going to fall in at first. No one liked the smell and the kids were a little hesitant with the flies buzzing around their backsides. All that said, by Saturday, the four older kids were running to the bathroom themselves without complaining. Way to go Troop!
With no one around, we decided to do some activities that we usually wouldn't do: horseback and pony riding. It was a bit more expensive than I would have liked, but the kids liked it.
Graigry got the first pony ride.
Xela and Aurora were old enough to go on a 45 minute guided horse ride. The three younger ones rode on a pony. Eric and I split up, him taking the pony ride with Xela as support staff while Aurora and I went on the horseback ride.
The horses knew the trail so all we had to do was sit and hold the reins. Aurora, and her love of horses, absolutely LOVED the ride and for the rest of the weekend wanted to go see Little Bit, the name of the horse she rode. Xela enjoyed herself as well.
At the end of the 45 minutes, I took Aurora on down and we went to a waterfall and playground while Eric went with Xela on the horses.
When we got back, our guide put each of the smaller kids on the biggest horse they had at the stables. Sitting on the noble steed brought big smiles to each of their faces.
Graigry looks a little apprehensive, but excited.
Nate is all smiles.
Nothing makes a horse look bigger than a three year old on his back.
We got back and Eric made a run to wal-mart for an air mattress and came back with about $100 worth of stove, including a camp stove, which I tried not to get upset about. In the end, the stove was a great thing to have. Being able to control the heat you are cooking on does make meals easier. While he was gone, the kids just played and I did whatever. Obviously not anything very memorable.
Dunahees arrived around 8:30pm and the Brooks/Eimans around 10 pm. Apparently the line to get into the park was 30 minutes long. Dunahees brought a trailer with their stuff and both families' bikes. That was GREAT!! The kids rode their bikes around the circle and the little paved circle leading into our loop. We went on some "Scottahee" family rides together as well. It was decided that our two families do so much together that we're more or less one big families so our last name, when we are together is Scottahee.
Friday night, after setting up in the dark, Matt Dunahee came over to cook a hot dog on our fire. He put the buns on the table while he cooked. When he went back to get the bread, we discovered Mooch. Mooch is what we named our visiting racoon.
Not the best picture, but can't expect much from the phone's camera.
Mooch got all but one bun and took the bag up the tree. The following night, we were up late and he had scavenged some graham crackers off of our backyard neighbor. I love catching wildlife in the act!
Sunday we went on a hike everyone together, sang some Primary songs and tried to enjoy Heavenly Father's creations. It wasn't as reverent as we adult may have liked, but it's a little hard with two three year-olds and two one year olds. There were some bat caves that no one could go into because the bats were getting some sickness that rangers didn't want spreading from cave to cave. It would have been cool to see them, though.
Here are some pictures from the hike.
Eric shouldering Neta
Bro Brooks lifting weights named Graigry & Nate
Neta coming out through a tree hole
Maybe it was Saturday, maybe Sunday, anyway, Eimans who are really outdoorsie people, brought a slack line for the kids to walk on. It's like a tight rope, but wider and has some slack in it. Brother Eiman got it hung between two trees next to our site and helped each of the kids across. They, the kids, LOVED it. A line formed and they were pretty good at waiting and taking turns. This is the only picture that came out without being blurred when the kids fell off. Thanks to Nathan, all the kids were able to make it across.
Can't say that much for the adults. After about 20 minutes we told the kids they had to give Nathan a break. Then some of us adults gave it a try. I think I got half way across, once, and only because I took a big step before I fell.
It was a long, showerless weekend. I washed my hair twice in the cold water that we hung in a milk jug and used to wash our hands. I intended to go to the more expensive electric sites and borrow their shower, but didn't get around to it. Everyone else was showerless and stinky so we didn't notice it really. I just felt gross. I was very thankful for a shower once we got home and unpacked.
It was a fun family weekend (even though Eric and I had our difficult and awnry moments & situations due to lack of sleep and other things, even after the air mattress). I hope next year we'll go camping more often, maybe to that same park (45 minutes away) but the electrical sites or to other state parks in Indiana. Maybe I'll convince Eric to go back to the Dunes. I loved playing in Lake Michigan two years ago and can't wait to get back there.
