Camping with kids (Also filed under "Parenting on Display")

No but seriously, camping with kids is the best thing since sliced bread.

I had to push aside my fears of "inconveniencing others" and parenting on display for the world to scrutinize and judge. But hey, I'm willing to be fodder for your sinful conversation if it means I get to do this all weekend!! (I know I look like I'm in pain. I'm not. The flash BLINDED me!!)

Jason and I have wanted to camp since before we got married. We had all the awesome stuff for camping on our wedding registry, but I guess when people saw that we didn't even have cutlery, a pot, or a vacuum, the camping stuff was less urgent. Looking back, it is better that we were gifted this stuff or we would still be washing and reusing plastic forks because we are both money hoarders so frugal.

Anyway, we were gifted a tent by a large family looking to upgrade. And FINALLY were able to plan ahead for camping. Jason's Christmas stash looked like an outdoors store threw up under our tree. And he was itching to get a chance to use it all. Backyard camping is fun, but you don't really need your propane stove and mini axe.

But you know where a mini axe comes in handy? In the wild!! NATURE!!!!

I think it was right about this time that an older couple pulled into the campsite next door to us. While they were scoping out the perfect location to put their tent, I jokingly said, "You should put it as far away from us as possible!"

HAHA. Right?

Our ever-so-tactful neighbor replied with, "Yeah, when we pulled in, I said to my husband, 'Oh no, a baby.'"

She was met with an icy cold stare and awkward silence. Because what do you even say to that? Once I recovered, I told her she didn't need to worry about the baby. It was the loud 3 year old that might drive them insane. Cue awkward laughter...

And I told Bridget to go wake them up bright and early each morning.

KIDDING!!!!

Aside from the stress of parenting my children in front of 200 strangers (it was packed!), our first camping weekend as a family was amazing. I'm antsy to go back. Without the rain ending our trip early next time! I sat outside reading, sipping coffee, watching my kids play, and talking to my husband. And when I got cold at night, I grabbed a couple kids and sandwiched myself in between them. What is better than that???

Okay so let's talk real quick about the awesome camping gear we had and what we wished we had!

We brought my beloved cast iron skillets for cooking over the fire, but there wasn't enough room over the fire for the entire meal, and it just got too smoky and hot. This outdoor kitchen is awesome for the extras! We put our Propane Stove on top and were able to make pancakes, sauteed veggies, and campfire coffee (which is all you really need, amiright?!).

Okay there were only a couple other things we had that were ESSENTIAL!

A basic kitchen utensil kit. This little kit has all the cooking essentials. Except garlic. Never leave the garlic behind!

God bless this portable fan.

We won't need it for fall or spring camping, but it was 95 all weekend and we would have been too uncomfortable to sleep without this fan!!

We actually don't need a ton of stuff when we go camping. Our kids were so well occupied all weekend with activities and meeting other campground friends that any other stuff we brought was ignored. Most of our activities centered around cooking.

Fact: Bacon cooked over a fire tastes better.

The kids spent a ton of time in the stream catching crawfish, reading books, canoeing, learning from the Park Rangers, hiking, and catching (and naming) crickets.  It makes me wish we had gone camping SO much sooner!! 

And the only thing that would have made this camping trip more perfect (aside from a large tarp so we didn't get rained out...newbie mistake):

A camping hammock! Or 3. We are going to try to buy at least one of these before we head out camping again in October. They were all OVER the campsite! I assumed they were too expensive for us, but they are actually affordable!

I have 1 month of prep time before we go camping again. What am I missing? What are your camping must-haves?

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Camp Maria Activities

Our weekend at Camp Maria was chock-ful of activities!!  Leo learned how to use the big-boy swing.

Helped himself to the large buffet of paints to make a blue pet rock

Elena enjoyed some R&R in the pool. 

Leo refused to allow us to take pictures of him all weekend, so instead of beating him, Jason joined him in whatever pose he wanted.  Good thing it wasn't fingers up the nose :)

We went canoeing in the ocean and looked for Ponyo and Nemo.  We didn't find them but we found some adorable little jellyfish.

The beautiful thing about all the activity was watching my children pass-out without begging, pleading and crying...on my part.

Jason started the youth on a game called Giants, Wizards and Elves.  Essentially, 2 teams play rock, paper, scissors but act out being giants, wizards or elves and the winning team chases the other team to gain more players for their side.  The team with the most players in the end wins.

Here is the dramatic stand-off between the two teams.  The team on the left threw Wizard and the team on the right threw Giant.

Aaaaaannnnndd - THEY'RE OFF!!

The last night ended after the Olympics with silly campfire songs with John.  Leo had a front-row seat with his buddy Bryan.

This song had something to do with a moose.

This was such a fun weekend for everyone.  If there are any Catholic families out there who would like more information on the Labor Day Weekend Retreat, please email me at allthingsgale@gmail.com.  We would love to have you there!!

Why we need someone to gift us a beach house

We spent a weekend at Camp Maria, and 250 of 500 photos were taken right here:

It was really a special kind of beautiful down on the pier.

I think I'm loading this blog post with entirely too many photos of the same thing, but each one is sooo pretty!!!

If you are a Catholic family interested in joining us next year for a weekend retreat at Camp Maria, please email me!!

A weekend in paradise

Jason was invited to Camp Maria for the Labor Day Weekend Family Retreat to coordinate all the youth activities.  Three words: A...maz...ing.  The whole weekend, start to finish, was spent with awesome people, great kids, beyond phenomenal weather and the scenery was breathtaking.  The first morning we woke up to go down to the pier for morning prayer:

As we are trudging through the grass, Jason stops suddely and says "Honey look what you almost stepped on!!!"

Can you see it at the bottom of the picture?

This little baby bunny rabbit sensed us coming and scrunched down to hide.  Somehow, neither my feet nor the 4 wheels of the stroller hit the little guy.  I don't know what I would've done.  I know my sister hit a bunny with her 15-passenger van and cried like a baby.  I know I would have too.

Look how tiny he is!!!  I am glad to report that there were no more close calls with nature.  A few fish and crabs were caught but the fish were thrown back in the water.  I believe the crabs suffered a much more delicious fate...

 More pictures of our weekend to come!