Camping

This past weekend we took Daniel camping for the first time. We met up with the Froberger, Ford and Mertens families at Wilson State Park on Budd Lake in Harrison, Michigan. Daniel was very excited to go and spend the weekend with all his friends - Connor, Brendan, Annabelle, Hugh and Edie - and meet new friends, Hayleigh and Emilee.

As soon as we got there, Daniel ran off to play with the kids while the guys all pitched in to pitch our tent. Daniel was pretty much instantly filthy. I knew he would get dirty, but I didn't know it was possible to get THAT dirty THAT quickly!

Our campsite - home for the weekend

Daniel getting dirty

Daniel spent his days playing in the dirt, riding bikes up and down the road, playing in the sand on the beach and swimming in the lake. Sometimes keeping all the kids corralled at the campsite was a challenge, but overall they were all well behaved and got along nicely.

Daniel and Brendan riding bikes

Daniel and Daddy building a sand mountain

Mommy and Daniel in the lake

Daniel swimming

Daniel playing in the sand

The evenings consisted of a quick shower or sponge bath to remove some of the accumulated dirt, put on jammies, have milk by the fire, then into the tent to calm down and relax. The calming down and relaxing took anywhere from 1 and a half hours to 45 minutes. Once he was asleep, it was time for me to relax by the fire with the adults. At some point each night after I came to bed, he moved around in his sleep until he was laying perpendicular to me using my thighs as a pillow. He pretty much slept through the night until around 7am, which is sleeping in for Daniel.

Sunday morning we woke up to a light rain. Randy and I were ready to pack up and head home. Randy took down camp while I made the whole gang pancakes for breakfast. Once everyone ate and had some time to play, we plucked Daniel from the dirt, said our good byes, jumped in the van and started our journey home. Daniel was so exhausted from all the fun that he fell asleep within 10 minutes and slept for almost the entire 3 hour drive.

Though I was a little worried about how it would go, camping turned out to be fun for all. I will admit that I was very happy to get home to a hot, clean shower and my own bed to sleep in.

But my favorite part of the whole weekend happened after we got home. We were all tired and dirty and Randy and I were trying to get things done so we could relax for a while. Randy was doing the yard work and Daniel was going crazy in the house as I was trying to unpack and put everything away. So I finally gave in and took him outside to play. It was hot and humid and I really wanted to be inside in the air conditioning. Randy was using the hose to clean up some stuff and Daniel was itching to play with the water, so I set up the sprinkler in the front yard to distract him and let Randy get his stuff done. Once Randy was finished, he took off his socks and shoes and gave Daniel the hose to spray him off. Daniel thought that was great fun. Then Randy started running through the sprinkler with Daniel. Daniel thought that was the best thing in the world - to have Daddy running through the sprinkler with him. He was so happy and had the biggest smile on his face. I wish I had the camera. I ended up in the sprinkler, too - with a little help from Randy - while Daniel laughed and squealed with delight. A family run through the sprinkler was the perfect ending to our weekend adventure.