So after packing up our entire car the day before, and then unloading it, we started Friday out by packing up and loading the car again! It was worth it though, because we were heading on our first real family camping trip! And two huge bonuses were the fact that we were going with the Johnsons AND we were going to Sourdough! Danny has many fond memories of camping there as a child, with his grandparents and cousins. Great Grandpa and Grandma Call bought the property there specifically so the family would have a place to go and play together. When Great Grandpa passed away, they transferred the deed to Danny's Aunt Carolyn, who is Christina's mother, since they used the property most often. Danny was so grateful it stayed in the family, and we've talked for years about going there. So this impromptu camping trip was kind of a big deal. :)
We got up to the campsite in the early evening, and it was not what I had always imagined. For whatever reason, I had always imagined more of a desert landscape. I was blown away by the gorgeous aspens, and the incredible views. All the packing felt worth it as soon as I stepped out of the car. This was going to be awesome!
The girls met up with Michaela and scattered to play, but Johnny stuck around to help Daddy put up the tent. Johnny already loves doing things in the outdoors, and I love watching him and his Dad bond.
Once the tents were set up and the cars unloaded, everyone settled into the best part of camping...doing whatever you want to do or nothing at all! The kids entertained themselves quite nicely while the men worked on a fire and the moms set up camp chairs. Before long we had a beautiful camp fire and we were ready to put our tinfoil dinners on to cook.
The one real problem I have with camping is the bathroom situation. I don't pee in the woods. I've never been successful at it and I just hate the thought of it! Luckily for me and the girls, Sourdough has really nice outhouses (seems like an oxymoron, I know), and it wasn't more than a few minutes walk away from our campsite. We decided while the dinners were cooking that it might be prudent to take everyone to the bathroom while it was still light, and that way I could find my way in the dark if needs be. The sunset was gorgeous (kind of reminded me of the pictures I've seen of the Sacred Grove), and Danny and Christina enjoyed reminiscing about their time in Sourdough as children. We took Maese on this camping trip with us, and he was an absolute dream! The kids, ALL the kids, just loved having him around.
The kids were hilarious at the outhouse. They had NO sense of privacy, and would line up RIGHT by the door. They talked to each other, fought over who would go next, discussed the scent of the hand sanitizer...it was hilarious! Oh, to be kids again. :)
We spent the rest of the evening just hanging out! Danny pondered the meaning of life (really, he just always poses this way when he sees me taking his picture), and the kids ran around with Maese. Once the kids had gotten their wiggles out, we settled in for some s'mores. Danny taught the kids how to achieve the perfect 'mallow for the s'more, and everyone had their fill...and maybe then some. :) When bedtime rolled around, the parents took their kid to our respective tents and put them to bed. Danny and I had no idea how the kids would do with sleeping in the tent, but luckily they were plum tuckered out, so bedtime when smoothly. Then the adults reconvened at the fire to talk about life. We stayed up WAY too late, but it was so much fun to sit by the fire and chat.
I'd like to say we all slept wonderfully that night, and maybe everyone else did. But I'm still trying to get used to this whole "camping" thing...so I felt like I had hardly slept. The kids definitely rested well though, and were ready to go first thing. :) Danny and I were in charge of breakfast, so Danny got started on some delicious breakfast burritos. We ate, played, visited, and generally just enjoyed the beautiful morning.
Eventually the kids got bored, so we decided on a walk to the lake. Everyone had a great time playing in the sand, in the water (even though they were told not to!), throwing rocks...all the fun stuff you can do at the lake. Even Maese ventured into the water, which so far really hasn't been his thing. I let Christina take the camera and have some fun, and she caught Danny and I trying to get a selfie. I have to say, we're still pretty cute! ;)
On our way back to camp, the kids decided they wanted to play on the playground for a while. But in true camping fashion the playground equipment didn't hold nearly the allure that building an elf/fairy house did! They found this cool hole in a tree and just had to get to work. I loved watching these kids work together and be so creative, and it brought back memories of doing the same with friends and cousins. It's the circle of life, I guess. :)
Unfortunately, the time came sooner than we would have liked to start packing up and getting ready to head home. We needed enough time to unpack and prepare for the Sabbath the next day. But before we could call an official end to the best camping trip ever, we had to get a group selfie with the selfie stick! And the kids had been waiting all day for their cool log shot. :)
Even though it was totally lame and totally unfair that our original plans for Island Park didn't work out the way we had planned, in hind sight we are so grateful for the time we got to spend in Sourdough with Shane and Christina and their kids. It was a blast, and we can't wait to do it again next summer!
