We recently went on our first family camping trip. Chris and I both love camping. My family didn't do alot of camping growing up, but Chris' family did. We both really enjoy it and so we decided we want to squeeze in as many camping trips as we can while our kids still want to hang out with us.
We left home around 2:30 pm and drove over to Cranfield lake/campsites. We set up our tent and got unpacked.
Tanner helping Chris hammer in the stakes for our tent.
Tanner really loved having his own camp chair. He'd set it up, then push it back together, move it across the campsite and open it back up and sit for a while. Then repeat it all again. It was cracking me up.
Then we walked down to the swimming beach and set up "camp". Luckily, it wasn't too hot, just right for the water but not completely unbearable.
The kids played and played in the sand and water. Tanner is really getting to be quite the fish. He even holds his breath and sticks his head under water and trys to swim on his own. Of course I have to hold him while he kicks because he sinks like a rock- but hey- he's trying!
Me trying to help Tanner swim. He's kinda independent!
Bailey loves her dolphin floatie. Also she loves to wear sunglasses- especially my sunglasses. This girl is so funny!
Bailey eventually fell asleep and I laid her under our beach umbrella to nap.
Our beach camp
After our lake adventure we went back up to our campsite, which was overlooking the lake, and got changed out of our suits. We started to prepare dinner and tried to keep Bailey from eating every rock in site. Seriously- what is the obsession?
Here is Tanner exploring the great outdoors. Isn't the lake beautiful in the background?
Bailey enjoying the "nature" all around her
Gotta stay hydrated
The only jeans I had for Bailey were way too small- they wouldn't button. Such a chunker..
We just roasted hot dogs for dinner, added a little chilie and cheese and called it good.
Tanner and Chris starting our fire so we could cook dinner
Tanner really liked roasting his own hot dog. Too bad he was too excited to eat, unlike his sister, who ate everything in sight.
After a little exploring and enjoying the outdoors, we busted out the s'mores.
Even Bailey got to try a little of her Daddy's s'more
This was a big hit with everyone involved. Although, eventually both kids decided they preferred their marshmellows un-roasted. They were so cute sitting together around the fire eating their marshmellows.
As it got darker we brought out the big finale. Glowsticks. OMG- I can't even tell you how much Tanner loved this. They came in a bag of 12 bracelets and at one point Tanner had every single one of them on him. They were hanging for belt loops, around his neck, on his wrists- it was so funny!
Here is Tanner showing me his glowsticks. He'd come and say what each color was. He loved it so much!
Bailey had one she played with, but she was mostly interested in stealing the ones Tanner dropped on the floor. Then Tanner would kindly say "No, No Baby. Give to me" or he'd trade her a glowstick bracelet for a rock- which always works on Bailey. That girl loves rocks!
The kids and I before getting ready for bed.
When it was time for bed I heated Bailey's bottle over the fire in our dutch oven and fed her. She was so tired because nightfall and bedtime are two totally different things. By the time it actually got dark outsite it was about two hours past her bedtime. Needless to say, when I put her in her carseat to go to sleep, she was out like a light!
Bailey taking her "baba"
Tanner stayed up for another hour or so playing with his glowsticks. My parents came out and had "banana boats" with us. By the time they left Tanner was a zombie. He was so tired but did not want to go to bed. He was having such a good time and he was cracking us up!
We said good-bye to my parents and laid him in his sleeping bag (which he LOVED) and he said "I so seepy, night night!" Approximately two seconds later, he was asleep with his glowsticks laying all around him.
The kids slept pretty well. Bailey woke up once in her carseat and I moved her next to me- then she slept the rest the night. I was so relieved that the kids did so well. The next morning we eventually packed up and headed home.
Chris and Bailey first thing in the morning- she woke us up kinda early.
Here are my happy kids first in the morning. It was kinda cold so that's why they are wearing hats. I didn't want their little ears to get cold.
Tanner was so excited when he discovered "Gerald" in his sleeping bag. He forgot he came camping with us...
And Bailey loved crawling in and out of our tent.
We can't wait to go back. Tanner loved it so much. He really enjoyed having his own camp chair and sleeping bag, but we'll have to make sure and bring glowsticks again, those things made his day!
My little family before we packed up to go home.
