What a lovely weekend away, reconnecting with God's natural beauty and getting out of the city! We had a great time with everyone camping up in the mountains. The campground was just what we were looking for with lots of privacy and big camp sites. So many campgrounds are just little spots right on top of each other with a few sticks around them that you pay through the nose for...probably because they have all the "amenities" like pool, arcade, gift shop, wifi and planned activities. We wanted to go camping though...you know, like setting up tents, cooking over the fire that you have to make yourself, away from the hustle and bustle of life where there's no access to any type of screen (we didn't even have any phone reception which was so nice!); where you can look up from your campfire through the trees and see the millions of stars that you can't usually see because you're too close to a Wal-Mart parking lot; where background noise doesn't consist of cars, ambulances, or other machinery but instead you can listen peacefully to the crackling fire, owls hooting to each other, birds chirping in the morning, and the trickling water of the nearby river.
We left in the morning, arriving by 2pm and went to work setting up camp.
Putting together Kaite and Dan's tent since they wouldn't be getting there until after dark
We had two campsites next to each other...Mom and Dad rented a pop up trailer (no hook ups or electricity though) and Zenith, William and I were in tents next to them.
William did great in his own tent next to ours with his pack n' play. He's a very light sleeper so I was afraid the noise of us going in and out of the tent after we'd put him to bed would keep waking him so we decided to put him in a separate tent. The second night it rained which woke him up but the little guy was such a trooper and just laid in the pack n' play, entertaining himself and being quiet until he fell asleep again (2 hours later).
Kaite and Dan's "mansion"
Bumpa starting a fire with William's help. :)
My little ragamuffin :P
Setting up for supper
Setting up our screen house
The gang's all here!
...which means it's time for a cuppa! Put the kettle on!
Zenith's mysterious twin
William eating breakfast. The next morning was quite chilly so we were all bundled up!
Astronaut Bill
Nothing like brekky over an open fire
On the menu: bacon, fried eggs in bacon fat, grilled toast over the fire, and coffee...lots of coffee.
Girls keeping Dixie entertained
The "kids clubhouse"
Cousin fun!
Embers in the fire...you could just stare at them all day
And what would camping without chopping wood?? Actually we brought our own wood which Dad had previously chopped from Kaite and Dan's house, but the wood was really green and just wouldn't burn, so since they charged an arm and a leg for wood at the campground, the boys went out into the woods and dragged in some fallen logs and even cut down some themselves and chopped them up.
This was one of the logs Zenith dragged in...it's heavier than it looks!
Jo-bo
Some campfire entertainment
The river we were camped next to
Time for a hike!
We drove down the Kancamaugus Highway a bit and stopped at a trail that lead to a waterfall to do some hiking on Saturday. We all would have loved to do some mountain hiking but between Kaite's kiddos and me being 8 months pregnant, I don't think we would have gotten far. The weather was perfect for a hike though...slightly cool and sunny.
He was a little loopy
Dan the photographer and Jo-bo his assistant
Sunday morning it was raining, but knowing there was a chance it would, we precooked eggs and sausages on the fire the night before, kept them in the cooler overnight and then reheated them on the pop up's little hot plate. We set up this little shelter and improvised!
Cousins staying dry
Our priest says Mass another church up in NH after he does ours so we were able to catch that one on the way home. It's not until 2pm so we were able to eat and get packed away in plenty of time. Despite the rain and cool nights, we had a great time. We're hoping to make this our yearly summer holiday...we'll see what the next baby is like and if that even seems to be an option with 2. It takes a lot of prep with meals and making sure you have all the equipment, but we just love it!
Can't believe we're already halfway through the week. Still trying to get things back in order from being away but we're getting there. Better get back to it.
Happy Humpday!
~Lindsay
No comments:
Post a Comment