Camping

Have you ever been camping?

Primitive camping?

Ever said words and it brought you back to a memory..
Just saying, "Primitive Camping" brought to mind an amazing journey for me that truly changed my life and the lens I viewed life and people from then forward.

Not sure our primitive camping experience as a family did that for our kids BUT it was fun! 

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This past weekend was Aili's American Heritage Girl Troop Camp-out and it was primitive style.  What that means is that there was no bath house. Rather, it was more like an outhouse. :)  It wasn't very bad - actually very clean.  Although things like the port a potty in there affirms my belief that squatty potties are more sanitary - no chance of your skin touching anything on them!! lol

Below was 16 years ago in Indonesia - my first camping experience...

We used the bathroom in the river...while doing our business in stream we realized said "toilet" was upstream from where our lunch was caught - protein anyone?  Bad picture but that was my first fish with scales, head and all as well.  

Obviously, our family's "primitive camping" wasn't anything this primitive but for our family of five it was a great start! ;) 

The campout was two nights.

The weather channel said it would be in the 60s.

Being 2 hours north of us, we thought that might be possible.

So, we excitedly packed our sweatshirts and fuzzy pants looking forward to feeling the breeze by the fire.

It was 87 degrees the first night!

Still fun.

Just more smelly than we'd hoped - haha
Sadly, fuzzy pants and sweatshirts remained unused. 

The kids did great!  They continue to amaze me at how well they do in situations I wonder if they'll survive; since they act like it is a death sentence to loose their electronics for a day!  

We were electronic free for an entire weekend!  

I didn't see what time it was the entire weekend!  

Truly, simply living is so much better than this rat race we tend to put ourselves in.

Meisi loved every bit of it.  She loved the dirt, the fire, the tent, hiking on daddy's back (poor daddy, we forgot the backpack carrier) and of course she loved the snacks. :) 

The first night I feared she would wake everyone as she was slap happy.  

She laughed and laughed.  

Bouncing on the air mattress in the tent laughing.

I held her still....she laughed harder.

Until finally, she passed out.

Truly, it was a bit weird and I did check her pulse to make sure she was ok.

Laughing out loud to nothing. ;)  

She and I are so much alike! haha

Some fun pics of our trip :)

It was night when we got there so the kids helped put the tent together. :)

 These are the girls from Aili's AHG troop who made the trip.

 Ian really loves helping little ones out.  He found a temporary little brother on this trip. :)

 Best Daddy ever! ;)

 Can you tell we are hot?  Gotta love hiking in Florida in October...this ain't Kentucky!

 Meisi really liked the endless supply of water the camel back provided.

 For those who think she is always smiling - she does frown occasionally. She was sad that the doors to the Cracker Houses weren't open.  Those Crackers!

 Hard to see this tiny banana spider...but Ian nearly ran face first into it!  Funny because most thought these spiders were HUGE!

This is a REAL banana spider (Indonesia style) - that is an adult male hand next to it...seriously like a sci fi movie!

Now I must give you some happy pics to take your mind off the spider - haha!

 Meisi found the seat that was just right. :)

Did I mention we were hot?
Must.Drink.Water!!!

 This became the play tent. :)

Some serious thinkers here...
So nice to be electronic free!

 Love...

 Aili working hard on her fire.
I was fully expecting them to use twigs to make fire.
Ya' know - like MacGyver.
Then the Eagle Scout pulled out matches!!
Bummer!

 Meisi knows what is important when camping - SNACKS!!

Wanna play peek-a-boo?  

Be ready to smile!!!

Oh how I love her!

Admit it - you are smiling!!!

I would judge our trip a success.
Even if we did drive an hour out of the way coming home.
It was family and marriage enriching ;)

Looking forward to many, many more adventures! :)