Way back in the woods

We had such a fun weekend! Justin thought it would be fun to take the kids and head camping. We didn't go at all last year and it's been awhile since we've really gone. We decided to go up to Park Creek again (the boys went for the Father and Son campout and just loved the campground). We didn't get to stay at Park Creek because someone else had the campground reserved. We drove up 2 miles more and found a most perfect spot for our family.

We left Thursday around 2:30 pm and got to camp about 4:30 pm. The kids were good on the ride- even with the cramped quarters. Riding in a truck with 5 kids is very interesting. We decided that we won't be able to put all 5 kids in the back for much longer. A new truck will have to happen before next year. My boys are getting too big!

Mayci, Kenzie and Austin sat behind Justin.

Madison and Braydon sat behind me.

Justin has the kids trained pretty good when it comes to camping. We always set camp up first and then we can play. We told the kids that we'd go to the Hot springs that were just up the road so we had no problems with the kids helping out with the set up!

Even Mayci got in on the action with putting the tent together!

She made sure that there were no problems with the tent. What a great job she did as inspector!!

Yep! The poles are nice and sturdy! Looks great guys!!

After the tent got up, we headed to the Hot Springs. I didn't get any pictures of us at the hot springs. We had so much fun there and even went back on Friday afternoon. We got back to camp and had to make a fire. We got all warmed up in the hot springs and got kind of cold once we were back in camp. The boys got right to work putting a fire together!

Mayci did good at staying away from the fire. She was interested in it but didn't get very close. She spent her time walking around finding all sorts of things to play with.

That teepee looks great boys. I think this will make a great s'mores fire!

Mom, this is so much fun! I love being outdoors and hanging with the family!

Mayci and mom pause for a quick picture while they wait for the fire to die down enough to start the s'mores! Nothing like a few good s'mores around a campfire. (A new favorite of ours is to get the coconut covered marshmallows and the Fudge striped cookies to make the s'mores with. They taste just like the Girl Scout Samoa Cookies!! You need to try them!)

Friday morning we decided a bike ride would be great! We thought it would be best to go uphill first. It was a pretty good hill. The kids walked most of the way up. The kids decided that dirt roads are hard to ride bikes on.

Especially when you are going downhill! Both girls fell at two different times. It made for quite the bike ride! They were both pretty tough though. No broken bones happened. Just some skin missing!

One of the other favorites on this camping trip was the hammock that Justin put up for us! It was in high demand by all of us.

Mayci and Dad got some time chillin' in the hammock. Not much but they did get some time!

While on our bike ride, we found a spot of the river that made a detour and made for a shallow wading area. The kids really wanted to go play in the water. We agreed and headed back up after lunch. Let's just say that the water was FREEZING!!!! They couldn't stand in it for very long or else they would have frozen toes!

They had a dare from mom and all of them sat for a few seconds in the water! It took some coaxing from mom but they braved it!

I dared them to lay down in the water and Kenzie was the only one brave enough. The boys really wimped out in this water.

Mayci was a big tease all weekend. She's learned how to copy everyone and she learned how to get quite the reaction out of all of us by shoving a whole cracker in her mouth and then showing us her food. She kept us giggling all weekend. She loved the hot springs. It was like a big bath for her. She slept good and was so easy going all weekend.

We did get rained on Friday night. It seems to always rain on us when we go camping. Our tent is old enough (11 years old) that it isn't quite rainproof enough anymore. So, while dinner was cooking, the boys hurried to put tarps over the tent to keep water off the top. It rained until probably 10 pm or so. After dinner, I got the kids into the tent and put pj's on everyone. We stayed in and played card games until it was too dark. Then everyone got some sleep.

Saturday morning was a little damp and the fire was so nice. After breakfast and some more s'mores (yes, it was 10 in the morning but we just had to get our share of s'mores in) we got our stuff packed up. We headed out by 12:30 pm.

Mayci found this rock to sit on and Kenzie and her entertained each other until it was time to go. My kids really are so good with her. It makes life easier to have such willing and helpful kids.

Let me just say that this is how Madison was the whole weekend. Just plain SILLY! She did a great job in the tent making everyone laugh on Friday night while it rained. We had some great memories created with this trip!

This would be on the ride home! I had to make them pose nicely for at least one picture. Even that one didn't get all of them being normal!!! I loved our weekend of fun! It was such a great getaway. Now, if I can just figure out how to get all of the laundry done after a trip like this without it taking all weekend long. Camping is the best except for the before and after. Especially when the after falls on Father's Day and your 13th anniversary. It made for an interesting day at the Pugmire house!