1st Camping Trip

We ventured to the hot and windy state of Nebraska for our first family camping trip! Derrick and I have been debating for 3 years now if we should attempt to camp with pack 'n plays and baby food. I'm glad we decided to wait.

These outdoor excursions are called "adventures" for a reason, and this trip was no different.

We arrived literally with about 15 minutes to pop our tent up and throw everything we'd need for the night in it before IT POURED RAIN, BLEW CRAZY WIND and HAILED.

 It put a little damper on the mood after arrival, yet the kids were excited to get their sleeping bags situated. It also left ample time before bed for jumping from air mattress to air mattress in the tent and time for silly pictures (to pass the time).

Our brand new tent passed the test, however only with a little help. Derrick literally stood for 10 or 20 minutes during the worst part of the storm holding the tent poles sturdy so they wouldn't snap. Thankfully it worked for us, but our friends and their 4 kids in the neighboring tent were forced to pile in their car quickly when their tent collapsed in the pouring rain just before midnight :( Positive spirits that they are, they were back the next morning! 

Tent pics during the storm.

Birthday Boy! Eli turned 2 the day we arrived for our 1st camping trip! I brought little glow-in-the-dark straws and Rice Krispie Treats with candles for a little celebration, but the rain ruined that plan! 

Kai's picture of us.

 We camped at Lake Mconaughey. It was a scorcher (>100 degrees) the entire trip after our initial thunderstorm, so the lake felt awesome! Thanks to the Clark family wagon, we drove down beside the water; 9 kids, 6 adults, a million sand toys, towels and campchairs. Did I mention the suburban also got stuck taking us to the beach shore??? It took several hours of digging, 4 tries by beefy 4-wheel drive trucks and a call to a local tractor to get it out! No worries, this is the stuff men live for.....we drove out there to the same spot the next day! That is adventure.

The kids were highly entertained by the water. Mainly they dug in the sand, transferred water onto their sand creations, and laid in the muddy water that resulted. It was messy and oh so much fun!

Addie-girl diggin'!

Addie, Kai and Reesie laying in their "hot tub."

So thankful we had great reason to lug our little boat (given to us from Derrick's grandpa, Thanks Louie!) from South Dakota to Colorado and then back to Nebraska!! It's a little fishing boat with 2 chairs, oars or a tiny motor if you please. They kids LOVED it (actually so did the dads)! The guys gave the kids rides around the shallow waters. Rev (Matt) took the big boys out fishing a time or two as well. But honestly, the kids enjoyed it in the water as much as they did out of the water :)

Rev and Derrick giving ride to Kai, Eli and Hallie

Ahoy all matees----entertainment during dinner prep

Me and my hunny

Eli taking a snack break under the shade canopy (which was a life saver on this trip).

You can thank me later babe!!! Derrick sunning his WHITE feet.

Just trying to ignore the ridiculous wind on our last night!

As we were tired and crisp on our last night of camping, we weren't able to enjoy the over-the-fire dessert creation Sarah planned for us because of hurricane-like winds. So we just enjoyed it together without fire. I can't say the trip was necessarily relaxing, but definitely fun. I enjoyed seeing my kids experience the whole camping adventure.

Addie just glad to be coloring in the air-conditioned car on the way home.