The Thrill of Camping!

Last week we finally went camping! The kids have been waiting all summer. We spent the first night with just our family, and the second night was spent with friends from church.
We arrived in the rain, set up in the rain, cooked dinner in the rain and fell asleep in the rain. But it was fun (and not a heavy or stormy rain). Below is a picture of Duane reading (by flashlight) a Bible story to the kids after dinner...
And here we are learning about wolves, bobcats and foxes at the preserve in the campground. Notice we only have 2 kids in the pictures? Grandma was very kind to take our littlest guy for the 2 nights. Thanks, Grandma!
Nature walk...

Jordan roasting his lunch... (by the way, if you're not gifted in starting & maintaining forest fires, take some boy scouts along!!)
Relaxing in the grand outdoors...
Grandma & Isaiah came along for the day, and boy was this little guy thrilled! He could get dirty, and poke at rocks and sticks and critters to his heart's content!
Paddle boats!
The big boy boat...

Bumper boats?
Is it a race? Poor Duane's boat looks lop-sided...
Time to run into the water and make the biggest splash!
Friends first, cousins second...
"Here, Judah, this is how you're 'sposed to eat it." (wild grapes)

Anyone want to join their team?
Heavy concentration...

Nice form!?
Getting dark- time for glow-in-the dark bracelets! (Tia's excited)

Very, very proud big girl to hold her littlest cousin...
Scouts to the rescue to build the fire for...
...roasting marshmallows!
So this is what s'mores do to you?!
After another great night of sleeping, they're ready for breakfast!

And here's the happiest little camper of them all- Asher (who drank in so much outdoor air that he slept 10 hours in a row)!

How many men does it take to fold up a tarp?

Thanks to all who joined us. We had such a great time that we want to start a tradition of camping with church families every summer. Who's joining us next year?

And even though we were camping in bear country (which is basically the whole state at this point!), we didn't sight any scary creatures in the night; BUT...

...when we got home, guess who was calmly & politely walking down our sidewalk???

(At least he is civilized.)