So last year when we took the kids camping at Willow Park (a great little place not too far from home) we named it "Camp Cheeseball". Because we took an enormous jar of cheeseballs - just for fun. Mo was a baby so I brought her home to sleep in her nice, warm, comfortable crib. I don't camp with babies!
A couple of weeks ago when Mike took the older two kids camping and they caught 3 fish, I decided to call that one, "Camp Three Fish". Again, our baby Mo, did not attend that camp, she stayed home with Mommy and slept in her nice, warm, comfortable crib. I don't camp with babies!
One week ago Mike's family held a family-reunion-camp. I'm calling this one Camp Tooth Burn! Here's why, Aaron lost a tooth! One of his bigger front ones - Awesome! AND he burned his arm when a little bit of HOT marshmallow landed on his wrist - Not so awesome, more like, OUCH!
Bekah almost got a very bad burn too when she toppled over into the fire pit. Thankfully, Uncle Justin was close and reacted very quickly. He scooped her up in a flash! I had Aaron on my lap at the time and I responded in the appropriate Mom way, I let out a little, Mom scream then grabbed Bekah to comfort her. Bekah came close to touching the coals and the dutch ovens but did not make contact, thank goodness!
All the time I was worried about something happening to Mo, (the baby I don't camp with) and she was perfectly safe the whole time we were there. But, in the end, I only stayed for dinner and when it was time for bed, I took Mosey home to her nice, warm, comfortable crib. And I enjoyed my nice warm comfortable bed as well!
I can't help it. I don't like, enjoy, support or believe in camping with babies! In fact camping with children period is very worrisome and stressful for me. BUT our kids love it! And so we'll continue to do it. Besides, I know how good it is for them. Camping can be a lot of fun, right? Somewhere in between bringing all that damn gear, cooking outside, sleeping on the ground, smelling like sweat, fire, and dirt, and risking being eaten by a wild animal, there's a lot of fun to be had.
Do I sound cynical? Oh, I am. I know. But I promised Mike I would go on a childless camping trip with him, just to give camping an honest try. See, I love the outdoors! I love hiking, roasting marshmallows, sitting by a fire, taking nature pictures and getting a tan. What I don't like is hauling ALL that stuff to the mountains to we can eat and sleep and "go" outside!
I don't think I've had many positive camping experiences. When I was a teen and "attended" Girl's Camp, I always caught a ride home early. We didn't camp growing up. Instead, we went to my Grandparents condo at Bear Lake...showers, beds, a kitchen - it was perfect! And I loved going there every Summer.
Maybe I'll enjoy camping much better when the kids are older. And maybe I'll enjoy it better when we buy a tent trailer! Here are the highlights from CAMP TOOTH BURN. Each endearing name helps us remember that camp so much better. I'm glad I thought of it. Enjoy the pics.
