Camping 2010

We have returned from our annual camping trip.  We're all a little exhausted, but overall it was a good time.

Here's the breakdown...
8th year in a row we've made this camping trip with this group

4 days, 3 nights

9 families

23 kids between the ages of 6 months (my Joseph) and 16 years.

20 of those kids were boys!!!

Yup.  You read that correctly.  20 boys.  Most of them were middle school & high school age.  Our boys are some of the youngest in the group.  But, it is so fun to watch this group and see where my boys will be in a few more years.

We did indeed use a tent.  We invested in a new, larger tent this year.  We really needed to upgrade our tent.  With 2 adults and four children...one still in the pac n play we needed some space.  We also invested in camp cots for my husband and I.  Best investment ever!  I actually was able to sleep somewhat comfortably. 

 Here was our humble abode for the trip...

 My parent's accomodations were a notch above us with their pop-up...

 The rest of our group camps in style...

It was such a blessing to have my parents, my sister Sharon, and two of her friends camping beside us.  We wouldn't have been able to camp with four boys without their help.

 My Dad

 My Mom

Sharon (far right), Tasha, and Ashley

My idea of a great camping trip....

• sitting by the campfire
• eating
• reading
• journaling
• eating some more
• taking leisurely walks

My boys' idea of a great camping trip...

• fishing
• swimming
• riding bikes
• digging in the dirt
• fishing and swimming some more

While I didn't get to do as much on my list as I would have liked, the boys definitely accomplished theirs.  And, at this stage of life, that's the important thing.  And, it was vacation so they got to enjoy things that would never happen at home.

Donuts & Oreo Cakesters for breakfast?  Check.

Drink two juice boxes in a row?  You bet.

Stay up late to watch the campfire and eat S'mores?  Absolutely.

Go to sleep caked in dirt and still wearing the day's clothing?  No problem

Worms for fishing

Fishing with Dad rocks!

Charlie's favorite past-time...getting dirty.

John gearing up for his annual trek to the Cecil County drag races.  This is a Friday night event about 20 minutes from our camp area.  So, he always brings his motorcycle to participate in the races.

The town of North East MD is only 10 minutes from the State Park.  We usually go in to town to enjoy a meal at Woody's Crab House and take in the sites.  It's a quaint little town with lots of antique shops and other cute shops.

Just to show that vacation was not all roses & sunshine, here are some pictures of a very irritable Charlie who had his share of the whinies.    Other not so wonderful parts of vacation?   90 degree heat, trying to discreetly nurse a baby (the tent was too hot to sit in during the day), minimal washing, and having to walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Other folks from our group

My (pregnant) sister Lorinda & her husband, Jason, came to visit Saturday afternoon.

 Sharon holding Joseph

 Yikes!  Really bad picture of me with my sister & brother-in-law but I have to show that I was actually along on this vacation.

 John took the boys fishing once as it was getting dark.  This was Edison's night-time catch.  He was sooooo proud.  Can you tell?

 Our group ate together for many of the meals.  Each family worked with one other family planning, prepping, & serving a meal.  My family along with my parents and sister had Saturday morning breakfast.  This picture shows some of the adolescent boys descending upon the food at one of the meals.

 Here's Gabby - one of the 3 girls and Edison's new best friend.

Can't wait to see what's in store next year!