My mom planned a camping trip (the only one for us the whole summer) for the last weekend of Summer. Since I was testifying all week, I had to get ready fast. So I left my Mom's by 10am on Friday, got back in town just after noon. Sat in Safeway parking lot feeding and changing Winston. Did the shopping for camping, while throwing in a public bathroom potty break. Home by 1:30pm. Packed all camping gear and everything for a family of 5 in the car. Matt's home by 3:30pm, helps getting the last in the car. Ready to roll by 4pm. At the campground just after 4:30pm. Not getting grumpy doing it all...Priceless!
Despite the weather conditions, it was an enjoyable weekend. All the family that came were Mom and Pop, Milo, Mel and fam, and Aunt LaVoy, Uncle Alan and Kristen. Also the Poteet's came up for the first night. It was fun having them there as well.
When we first got there, it was really hot and seemed to be a promising weekend. Within a few hours the wind picked up for a while, but calmed and we didn't even need jackets that night. The wind blew a little during the night, but calmed after a while. Saturday was a lot cooler. We wore jackets most of the day and at one point, made a fire again and even warmed up with a cup of hot cocoa. Just before Mom finished dinner Saturday night it started raining. It rained for about 2 hours, and then was done. The fun had just begun.
That night the wind wouldn't let up. I take that back, it would come in gusts. It really started just before midnight. At least that's when it woke us up and blew so hard it pulled the stakes for our tent out of the ground. Matt had to hammer them back in, in the dark, wind and rain, while I pushed against the wind on the inside of the tent. The wind was so crazy and would make the tent just sway, push the sides of it in until it was touching us, and whipping the tent back and forth. It was just so loud!! I was up for an hour or more stressed that the kids would be woken up and planning the details of just driving them home and coming back in the morning to pack up. Quinn woke up, but didn't make a peep, just stirred, sat up a few times and eventually went back to sleep. I eventually went back to sleep and would only awake when the wind would die down for a few minutes. We survived the night. By 7 am, or so, we were breaking camp, and decided it was just to windy to survive making breakfast. We were packed up in record time and enjoying the buffet breakfast at the "store" by 8:30am. Haha
A few pictures of the weekend. I didn't take anything noteworthy.
All the kids gathered around the lanterns Friday night. They were watching the "grass bugs" that were attracted to the light. It looks like Kristen is telling a great story to them.
Proof that Mandy and George were there. It's a little hard to focus in the dark...hehe! The Poteet's came while we were eating dinner. I think maybe only my parents knew they were coming too. When their tent was all set up, it was dark, and George came up to my family holding Grayam. He was sick and had a really low, scratchy voice and the only thing he said to my family was, "Hi, sorry about my voice." I could see the confused faces on my family and quickly made the introduction. Later Aunt LaVoy told her version of the crazy guy stepping out of the shadows talking about his gravely voice. It was hilarious and it was brought up over and over through out the weekend! It was great having Poteet's share in our family fun. We love our Poteet's!!
I hope Aunt LaVoy will still love me after posting a picture of her. She hates pictures and will hide from them, so I try to sneak them as often as possible, in spite of her. Hehe. Here she was trying to get the animal crackers in front of her face in time, while complaining to me to stop! I love you, my most beautiful Auntie!!
Uncle Alan being the ham he is! He's just the opposite of his wife, when he sees my camera out, he just starts smiling for the pictures! Haha. I sure love my Uncle Alan!
Since it was going to be a short weekend. I voted for no hair or make up. Usually we, the Chlarson girls, do hair and make up the whole camping trip. Mom ended up having Milo pick us all up cute John Deere hats. I'm proud to say we didn't do our hair and Mom and LaVoy ONLY 'put on their eyes'. In fact, I don't think one person showered the whole weekend! Should I be admitting that!?! Haha! I even got a roasting stick, with marshmallow on it, in my hair on the first night. (Thanks Mel, hehe!) That stayed in the whole time!
Love Matt in a hat!
Reed was being so cute with Milo and his hat.
He kept trying to eat it! So, so cute he is!
Here we are the last morning at our ghetto buffet breakfast! (Thanks Uncle Alan and Aunt LaVoy!) Oh the memories!!
Aunt LaVoy was so tired of the picture taking, I think she left in a hurry just so she wouldn't be in one last picture. All us girls were wearing our cute hats and gray sweater. "Special!"
It was a great last weekend of Summer. I love and enjoy my family so much. I feel so blessed. It was extra enjoyable having Uncle Alan and Aunt LaVoy there as well. It wasn't quite the same without Grammie and Grandpa, but they were busy working at the temple. It was Grandpa's birthday that Saturday, and we didn't have cell coverage, but we all sang him "Happy Birthday" anyways!
