Fall Break 2011....the Freedom of Camping!

We just enjoyed Fall Break.  The weather could not have been MORE perfect.  William took the boys camping early Saturday morning.  They spent the day exploring, setting up the campground, and just hanging.  Florie and I drove the two hours east on Sunday morning.  I wanted to wait for her to spend the night in a tent since she has been with us less than six months, and is still in diapers. Although we have come so far with sleep, I was not quite sure how she would handle the tent.

The site

Running through the woods as wild boys do

Warming by an early morning fire

We met up with the boys and William and had a great day. First we played on a playground to burn some of the kids' energy.  Then we went on a hike.  I forgot Florie's backpack carrier, so she ended up walking most of the way and really did a great job.  She loved the letters on all the signs and wanted her picture by EACH one!  We then went back to camp and had "lunch" aka baked beans and trail mix. The rest of the afternoon was full of exploring the woods around our tents.  There was a creek, a bridge, a skunk hole :) and more!  William made a GREAT dinner of couscous and chinese noodles complete with hot cocoa.  The kids then all wore headlamps and glow sticks and ran around until S'mores time.  Florie LOVED the fire about as much as the boys did, but fortunately she kept away from it.  We helped the boys clean up and then headed for home about 8 pm.

Happy to be back with the boys!

Alex hiking

Florie pointing out the letters for us

Taking a water break

Daddy and his full lap

At the top

Fall Creek Falls

Heading back on the trail

Alex for his school

LT had to get in on the posing too

Lunch!

Yum!

Our own wonderful backyard at the camp

Getting dinner started

William and Jack

Crazy camera but 4 kids with glow sticks and head lamps

The boys stayed another day to fish and explore a bit more.  Needless to say they came home stinky, filthy, exhausted, and perfectly happy.  Hard to beat a camping weekend! Oh!  Ben also "lost" his jacket at the park which was a new fleece with his juice pocketknife inside.  When we went back to look for it, it was gone.  BUT, William checked in the camping headquarters the next morning for it, and someone had turned it in for him.  Love the camping community!