Camping

We tried to continue our tradition for a yearly backpacking trip but everyone agreed we could still count the tradition if we just went camping. I really wanted to push through and backpack but I knew everyone else would have a better time camping with a really pregnant mama than backpacking with a really pregnant mama 😉. Not to mention, Blake would have had to carry sooo much stuff to keep my pack lighter, it would be a lot to ask. There’s always next year! 

So we began the search for a good camping spot.. not easy to find with such short notice. After much internet searching and filtering we found the best we could do. It turned out to be great. Not too crowded or busy, water close enough and a hike nearby to a little cave! And it was pretty easy for both of our families to get to. Only drawback was there wasn’t a good lunch spot for us to meet at on our way out. 

The kids had a blast playing in the trees, riding bikes and playing in the fire. The grown ups enjoyed the conveniences of car camping and having the cleanest pit toilets we’ve ever seen right across the driveway.

Unfortunatley, we can’t seem to avoid rain or mosquitoes. If it doesn’t rain, the mosquitos are killer (last year). If the mosquitos are light, it rains. At least the rain isn’t as bad when you’re car camping but it was a bit of an unexpected inconvenience. 

On our way, we stopped to pick a flat of blueberries 😋 mmm. Summer does have its perks!  

That’s a cookie and a roasted marshmallow. Mmm hmm. 

La Wis Wis

I can still smell the campfire smoke as I look at these pictures.

We decided to try to get in two hikes and camp. However, on our way there we discovered that there were some road closures and we wouldn't be able to make it to our second hike. So we just set up camp and enjoyed our time. There were only a couple of camp sites left, one too small for our tent and one next to the camp host's noisy generator (the hosts' concern, not ours). So when a group site opened up as we were talking to them, the said we could have it for the single site price. It was gorgeous! Too big really, but right on the water and awesome.

There was a little hike in the campground up to a waterfall. After we set up camp we took off and broke ourselves in a little. We also effectively turned a half mile hike into a mile hike because Harrison dropped his hat and we had to backtrack to find it, and then we found that my hat had fallen off the backpack so we got to hunt for that too.

It was a sweet little hike :)

I couldn't get the right angle with Harrison on my back and all those slippery
rocks, but I loved this little tree.

Had fun with my settings and got some misty water.

Hi Mommy!

Selfies are hard with kids on your back

Emerson behind the lens

The view from our tent

My favorite thing, waking up and seeing some gorgeous water-based nature

Camping!!

Sausage dogs on the fire

My men

My loves

Emerson was really into taking pictures.

There were also several shots of the car, her feet, the fire and the neighbors.

Good morning snuggles by the fire

Coffee! Even if it's decaf

Bacon and eggs over the fire

Camping!