A Camping We Shall Go

Lest you think I've just been lazy the last week or so, let me set the record straight:

I went camping for four days and three nights with four children.

Thank you.

Here's how I used my time during the last week and a half:

Planning

Panicking

Making lists

Buying food

Buying supplies

Packing clothes

Packing food

Packing supplies

Packing bedding

Packing the van

Driving

Getting directions

Driving

Arriving

Watching the kids while the men set up camp

Handwashing

etc etc etc

**Horseback riding--yay!!

Handwashing

Hiking

Handwashing

Braving the bathhouse

Handwashing

Washing children in the bathhouse

Getting children to sleep in the tent

Sitting around a campfire with friends

Keeping children warm through the night

Waking up cold

Dressing children in the cold morning light

Eating breakfast wearing a hoodie, huddled around the fire

Handwashing/Dishwashing

Changing children's clothes as the day got hot

Handwashing

More hiking

Respite from the afternoon heat in the GAME ROOM (yay, airconditioning!)

Panicking

"Saving" children from the ravine behind the playground; they weren't grateful

Handwashing

etc etc etc

Packing, packing, packing

Driving

Unpacking, unpacking, unpacking

Dealing with children who want to be outside all the time, but can't because we don't live in a tent.

Homeschooling while doing lots of wood-smokey laundry

One very unique aspect of this trip is that I didn't take a single picture. I had remembered to bring my camera, sure. And for the first day or so, I kept thinking I should be snapping away at all the beautiful trees, the well-positioned water spout, and the horses. But I just couldn't bring myself to do so. I was afraid that if I started taking pictures, I might be taking away from the experience. My personality is such that I find ways of disconnecting from groups of people and watching from an emotional distance as I do some other mental activity. Although I love people, love talking and interacting, the introvert side of me is very good at "hiding" emotionally, oftentimes without me realizing I'm doing it. So I kept my camera in the van and managed to feel like I'd actually been there. A revelation, for sure.

In lieu of having pictures to share, my plan is to post an interview with my camping buddy Edie.

She filled the role of Mistress of the Morning Pancakes. It should be quite enjoyable, as Edie often is. So wait with bated breath, faithful reader. Satisfaction is forthcoming.