- setting up a campsite
- pitching a tent
- cooking over a wood fire
- hiding under a tarp during a rain storm while eating dinner
- sleeping in a sleeping bag
- sleeping in a tent
- sleeping in a tent during a big rain storm with thunder and lightning
- swimming in a lake
- making and eating s'mores (for breakfast!)
- hanging out with new friends in the woods
It was all pretty fun and Sadie was an amazing camper - she was interested in everything and jumped right in. Just look at the photos! [CLICK ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT]
Here we are right after we arrived and set up camp - eating a PB&J.
And here we are on our first trip down to the lake with the other families.
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| Sadie and her new friend Siona. |
Back at our campsite to change before dinner.
In our tent in a big rain and thunder and lightning storm before going to sleep. Sadie was so excited. She had all sorts of "ideas" for how to rearrange her thermarest matresses and sleeping bag (I might have gotten a little irritated at all the commotion).
In the middle of the night I woke up and it was no longer raining. I heard Sadie move a little so I whispered, "are you awake?" and she whispered, "yes!" So I got up and went outside and pulled the rain-fly off one side of the tent so we could look at the stars from inside our tent. It was pretty exciting.
Sadie woke up in a ridiculously good mood the next morning. My back hurt a little, but her joie de camping was infectious.
After breakfast with the other families, we went for a little nature walk in the woods around our campsite.
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| That's Niko and Roxy. |
Back at our campsite to change into bathing suits - and proud of our tent.
On the walk to the lake, these three kids (Beau, Sadie and Stella) stopped to be adorable.
Sadie and Beau had a lovely time hanging out in the lake. I'm sure one photo would do, but they seem like such old friends, they're fun to watch.
So, as you can see, we had a lovely time. It was very special for me to get to spend so much time with Sadie. Victoria assures me that Sadie enjoyed it as much as I did. Yay!
Now to a point of order. I am well aware that the appellation "First Annual" will irk certain members of our audience, but "Inaugural" does not indicate intent and I can think of no simpler way to announce our aspiration to do this same camping trip every year from now on. IT WAS GREAT AND WE'RE GONNA DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN!! (I hope.)
