Camping: The Next Generation

We took Elliott camping with friends over Columbus Day weekend, which was definitely an interesting experience since it was the first time any of us had camped with our children. Having a little one to keep an eye on makes everything just a bit more complicated, and that one small extra person means a whole lot more to pack!


Elliott seemed to have a great time, despite getting a small poison ivy rash and some scraped knees!



For sleeping in a tent all weekend, the kids actually did great. We were able to get them to bed at a reasonable hour and then stay up by the fire talking. It actually worked out better than probably any of us had hoped. After running around outside literally all day long, I guess they were just too tired to care that they weren't in their normal beds.



Elliott loves getting rides on Daddy's shoulders.



Of course all the boys loved playing in the sandy dirt.



We took a nice hike through a wooded trail that leads out to Lake Seminole.



Good times around the fire pit.



We enjoyed delicious fire-grilled burgers accented with locally-grown tomatoes and whole-grain buns handmade by Angela who milled the grains herself.



...and marshmallows toasted on the edge of our camp fire.

And what would a good camping trip be without a visit to the ER? That's right -- along with fireside talks, nature walks, burger grilling and marshmallow roasting, one of our friends somehow ended up with a severe allergic reaction to an as-yet-undetermined piece of our weekend adventures. Luckily, there actually was an ER within about 20 miles of our campsite, and with a few shots and pills, he quickly turned the corner and was fine the rest of the trip. But between that and keeping our newly-walking children from toppling into the fire all weekend, it was definitely a memorable trip. :) Truly, we can't wait to do it again -- just without the ER visit next time!



The whole gang!