_______First Time Camping with Kids

This weekend we went camping at Davy Crockett National Forest in Lufkin, Texas.  It was our first camping trip since having kids.  When we arrived at the campsite, Lindsay and Andy already had the tent set up (good deal!).  Here's some snippets of the experience:


Our first time camping with the kids

arriving just before sunset
spending the last of the daylight collecting firewood
kids playing with dirt, sticks, and pinecones
(no need for toys here)
rolling the big log from three sites down to make a seat

trying to start a fire with soggy wood
giving up and cooking hot dogs on the gas burner
Daddy making a run for lighter fluid and charcoal

dousing the wood with lighter fluid until it finally catches
melting s'mores over the flames
sticky, chocolaty fingers and grins

taking the boy to the bathroom in the dark
pretending I don't think it's creepy
spiders and snakes and bugs, oh my!
(not to mention the dreaded boogeyman)
but don't forget to look up at the perfect night sky

"it's almost bedtime, little ones"
"nah, you don't have to brush your teeth tonight"
tucking those kids into their sleeping bags
"get back in bed and stay there!"

grownups stay up talking just a little longer
"can you believe we're the grownups now?"
until the fire burns out

sleeping on and off throughout the night
more off than on, it seems
the egret's call echoes across the lake
someone should really get that dog to stop barking
can't believe those campers are just arriving
what was that noise?
and "it's okay, mommy's here"

restart the soggy fire at sun-up
Uncle Andy's hot chocolate
the lake covered in mist

one more hour to play with dirt, sticks, and pinecones
taking the kids on a nature walk while the guys pack up
coming home smelling like campfire and feeling like grit
talking about how we can't wait to do it all again