Camping at Alum Creek

 Prior to Ben's banishment to Springfield (1 hour away) for this month's ambulatory family med rotation, we took a little family camping trip to Alum Creek.  Was I a little worried we were crazy?  Yes.

E remembered camping with Daddy a few short months ago for our ward's Fathers and Sons activity, so he was super stoked.  We started out the camping with a bang because E really had to go potty and couldn't make it to the bathroom station...so what's a boy to do?  Why, give the nearest tree an extra drink, of course!  He thought that was hilarious and consequently had to go potty many times after that.  We made him go to the bathroom station after that though, so that sort of squelched his enthusiasm.

 (There was a large cement parking pad at our campsite, so E got to ride in circles on his little bike during slower moments.)

 In time-out for some infraction...

 Sammi and Dada

He thoroughly enjoyed helping me set up the tent and couldn't wait to go to sleep in it.  He was practically begging to go to bed.  He was so intrigued with the idea of roasting a hot dog in the fire for dinner and was so pleased with himself that he ate the whole thing, bun and all.

We all piled into the tent, read a few chapters of The Mouse and the Motorcycle, and then Ben and I stayed up and chatted around the campfire while warding off raccoons.  Those things are creepy.  It was really nice to just sit and talk to Ben.  E faithfully waited up for us in the tent with his flashlight, and kept poking his head out saying, "Mommy!  Look at those pretty stars!" while Sammi was zonked in her princess-sized pack n' play.  Surprisingly, we all slept really well.  I was expecting much worse.

The next morning we packed up and headed to the Alum Creek beach.  Sammi has never experienced sand before, but she really liked it.  She liked it so much that she kept shoveling handfuls in her mouth and chewing.  I know, it makes me cringe too.  She was so dang fast, it was hard to keep her from doing it.

When it was time to go, E started bawling that he wanted to sleep in the tent for another night and asked if he could bring this sad little wet leaf home.  I think he just wanted something to remember his fun camping trip by. :(  Poor little guy.