Summertime means it's time for our annual camping trip with our LSCC friends; we just got back last weekend! Last year, we enviously watched our friends set up their instant tents in five minutes or less after we had spent nearly an hour setting up our regular ole' tent, so we decided to take the plunge and invest in an instant tent. We opted to do a dry run in the backyard before actually taking the tent out on the trip. Nik was a trooper and slept with the kids in the backyard while I slept in the house. It was a little cold and the kids slept late and woke up when the sun rose, but overall, the kids did well.
Feeling somewhat prepared, we packed up for the trip. This year, our trip was at Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Although weather reports indicated that it would be warm, I was perhaps traumatized by last year's cold evenings and nights, so I may have overpacked. We joined in on the caravan to the campsite, an impressive feat considering we had 12 cars! Fortunately for us, after lunch, both of the kids passed out and napped until we were almost nearly there. Once we arrived, we chose a spot and quickly set up camp. The kids settled in immediately and got right to the business of playing in the dirt. Oh camping!
When you take the kids to the mountains and all they want to do is play in the back of a pick up truck
The first full day of camping was spent at White Pines Lake. The kids enjoyed playing with inflatables, and a kayak and stand up paddle board that Papa Jeff had thoughtfully brought along. Sora contented herself with playing in the sand for what felt like hours. Perhaps it's because the water is shallow and calm, but Kai actually said that he prefers the lake to the ocean!
The inflatable crocodile was a huge hit.. until it popped the next day
Hours of fun
♫ C'mon ride the (floatie) train ♫
On the next full day, we did a whirlwind tour of Calaveras Big Trees State Park. We first briefly stopped at a scenic overlook for a group photo--no mean feat with 13 families! Then we stopped to check out the rapids along the Stanislaus River: a little anxiety provoking with all of the kids and littles, but fortunately no one fell in.. though PJC was standing at the ready just in case.
We then spent the remainder of the afternoon by Beaver Creek. The kids enjoyed playing in the cold, clear water and Nik found little creatures in the water to show to the kids. The river stones were a bit hard on little feet, so eventually the kids settled in to play in the sand.
As with last year, camp food with LSCC is a professional affair. All the meals were meticulously planned out and everything was delicious.
Perhaps it's because it was warmer this year or because the kids are becoming more independent and social, but we spent less time just hanging out in our tent than last year. The kids loved running up and down the road carrying sticks; fortunately, there were no injuries aside from a few minor scrapes. There were many times that the kids wandered off to play and Nik and I had no idea where they had run off to.
The kids found a caterpillar!
The kids loved the swing that Papa Jeff strung up
While the kids play, the adults play ;)
Hot cocoa and a morning campfire
Sleep was a challenge.. actually, I should say that sleep for Sora was a challenge. On the first night, Sora woke up screaming several times; she improved as the trip progressed, but I dare say that our little Sora now has a reputation as a screamer among our church friends. Remarkably, Kai did great and slept through it all.
Deceptively peaceful
Since the kids are older and don't need to go to bed as early, we were able to make it out for evening campfires this year. The kids loved the s'mores and on the final night we had a campfire worship which the kids loved.
Making s'mores with 31 kids is no joke
Undoubtedly, the kids will soon be asking us when we'll be able to do it all again. We had a great time and we're already looking forward to next year! :)
This past weekend was spent roughing it in the great outdoors. We went tent camping at Sunset Beach State Park with huge group of our church friends. Nik and I haven't gone camping a tent since B.K. (Before Kids) and prior to the trip, we were a little leery of how the weekend would go. But our fears proved to be unfounded and all in all, we a great time. Putting up the tent took a while and we were jealous of our friends who put up their tent in less than five minutes.. Nik and I may need to invest in an instant tent if we decide to go camping more often.
Nik and his assistant
Tent + inflatable mattresses makes a great impromptu bounce house.. especially while the adults set up camp.
As the name implies, Sunset Beach is right by the beach, and we spent
hours with playing in the surf and sand (I have the sunburn to prove
it). We spent five hours (!) at the beach on our first full day camping and predictably, we all passed out in the evening.
Passed out after a long day at the beach
The next day, we went strawberry picking. Kai was discerning and only picked out the reddest of berries. However, our little boy also decided that jumping in the big, muddy puddle in the middle of the strawberry patch was a good idea, and required an outfit change midway through. Strawberry picking was then followed by another long afternoon at the beach.
"Hm, this requires a taste test."
"
"Sprawled out on the sand in my clothes and I don't care."
Everyone wanted to be buried in the sand..
.. and eventually, Kai wanted to join in on the fun!
Camp food with LSCC was awesome and we could tell we were in the company of
veteran campers. Kai and Sora loved the unlimited supply of marshmallows
(although they were not fans of roasted variant).
Breakfast at the kids' table
Sora's first s'more!
The kids got so dirty
playing and running around and this was the first trip that I did not
overpack since we were constantly changing their clothes.
The big tree in the middle of the campsite was a popular hang out site for the big kids..
.. and of course, Sora wanted to get in on the action!
We never
really managed to stay for the evening campfires since it was too cold in the evenings, the kids slept
early, and we were too exhausted to leave our tent once the kids were
asleep.
The kids loved playing and sleeping in a tent and slept better
than we had hoped.
Kai slept in the peapod, wearing a snow bib..
.. and Sora was bundled up in the snowsuit, while she slept in her pack 'n play.
So happy while playing together in the tent
Sibling ♥
We missed the first group photo since our kids take forever to get ready, but fortunately, we took another one at the strawberry patch. 15 families (with 37 kids!) participated in this year's camping trip, but it was a surprisingly smooth operation. Kai's already looking forward to going camping again. :)
