Camping Out!

It was a beautiful weekend to take the family camping. Evan's mom offered to keep Annascott which made the trip a little easier to say the least. We headed to Pisgah National Forest for our first family camping trip in the mountains. Thank goodness the campsite had showers and bathrooms! The weather was perfect and the leaves were so many wonderful colors. When we arrived Evan set up camp for us and then we took a short family hike before it got dark.

Back at camp we gathered firewood and thanks to Evan's boyscout knowledge...had a fire going in no time. Kurt helped fuel the fire with his "oxygen." We enjoyed a yummy dinner of hotdogs and chips! Then to top it off we roasted marshmallows for our smores.

Finally, it was time for showers. I think the entire camp ground heard our voices echo in the bathroom as we were freezing cold. Next, it was time for a bible story around the campfire. The beautiful fall night with the moon shinning above us was a wonderful example of the Psalm we read. Psalm 19:1-2 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge." After a few songs it was time for bed. Evan and I enjoyed the fire a little longer and then joined the kids in the tent. Well, the first 3 hours were great. Then Kurt woke up disoriented and crying. We finally calmed him down before he woke up the entire campsite! Then, 30 mins later Evan gets up to go the bathroom. Then 30 mins later I get up to go to the bathroom. NONE of the kids ever had to get up to go! Then right when we were about to fall asleep Kurt began to snore. Finally it is got quite. Then Brittian began to snore! The ground was so hard. It was hard to not dream of my bubble bath at home and my nice comfortable bed. Then I realized...this trip was not about a good night sleep...it was about the family experience and the memories made together. I have to say I don't feel quite as cut out for the tent thing as the rest of my family. :)

Around 7:20 the kids woke up ready for another day of camping adventures! We started the fire up again and enjoyed a yummy breakfast of pancakes and hot chocolate.

Starting the fire for breakfast.

Playing baseball while the pancakes cooked.

After breakfast, we packed up and then headed off to go fishing. We decided we needed a fishing pole for each child next time!

While the kids waited for their turn to fish they started a rock throwing contest. The goal was to make the biggest splash.

Drew won throwing the biggest rock!

Why is it so hard to get a "real" smile from boys?

It's Kurt's turn!

After fishing we enjoyed a quick hike in the mountains. It was a great way to release some energy!

After a picnic lunch by the stream we were off to see Looking Glass Falls.

Next, Evan took the boys down Sliding Rock. Brittian and Drew braved the cold water. Kurt wanted to join in...however, Evan talked him out of it for fears of child abuse if he started crying when he felt the cold water at the end. We of course were the only people going down the slide in October! The onlookers were so happy they could watch some "crazy" people go down!

Brittian is the first brave one to go down with Evan. It's a little slippery!

Get ready!

Get set!

SPLASH!

Next up, Drew Man!
One...

Two...

Three!

And boy is it cold!

A compassionate bystander helped Drew to dry land! They must have all thought we were the craziest family to do this to our children in October.

After drying off, we traveled down the mountain for some yummy ice cream at Dolly's. It was the perfect ending to our camping adventures!

I can see this becoming annual Anderson Camping tradition! Next time I will be better prepared with a blow up mattress and some earplugs!