Quarantining at home feel weird. It's not that we want to run out and shop all day or visit everyone we know or drive to another state or lick all the shopping carts at Target. It's just that you don't have the option. It feels a little cramped and enforced. Which makes sense. Because it is.
On the other hand, quarantine camping feels just like regular camping. So decided to head out to Crawford National Park. And Megan is going to get us there. You can't tell from this photo, but every single muscle in her body is STRESSED OUT. But hey, she'll clock 4 hours drive time from this little trip. Katching.
We arrived and got right to work setting up camp. We are a well oiled machine, us females. We can put up the tent even when the wind tries to thwart our efforts!
The Guenther's arrived and set up camp nextdoor, and then the Flynns took the one beyond that. Soon the tent was up, the hammock was swinging and the kitchen was organized. The kids were released to do what they dod....
The fire pit was missing a grate for cooking, so we had to go old school and put them right in the coals. This required a respectable fire. Luckily, I remembered to bring our empty Llama Loops cereal box. It saved the day when I realized I may not be as good at starting fires as I thought. I definitely had plenty of practice this weekend. One Llama Loops box can only get you so far.
The tinfoil dinners turned out surprisingly well!
After dinner, we spent some time down at the lake on a beautiful outcropping of rocks.
We tried to catch the sunset, but we got there too early and the kids lost interest before the sun could make an artistic exit.
Everly and Anna hanging out...
And making each other laugh...
That night we went to sleep to the sound of mooing cows off in the distance. Not the worst noise we've ever had to tolerate.
The next morning, we remembered to read our scriptures before we got up and started breakfast. Mark and the boys promised to read back at home...we are on a roll! We're not going to let a camping trip mess up our streak.
After breakfast we went on a very muddy hike. Mari tried to teach me what poison ivy looks like, but I didn't really get it, so that resulted in me feeling afraid of anything green and leafy. As we finished the hike, she said she didn't see any poison ivy out there, so now I know for sure that I have no idea how identify it.
My favorite thing about these photos is that Aidan has the same pose for the nice smiling picture and the goofy one.
And then the rest of the day we, you know, just hung about....watched the lizards pop out from under their rocks....
We found the VERY CUTEST country mouse alive and watched him munch on a poison ivy leaf....I guess I'm not the only one that can't identify them. He was so fluffy and soft and he seemed so tired. He would take a bite and then close his little eyes and chew so slowly. We fell in love.
We had lunch, not really because we were hungry, just because what else is there to do? Making fire is our main camping entertainment.
We headed down to the "beach" after lunch to let the kids dig around and splash a bit. Also, we were anxious to spend a few moments away from the verity rainstorm of ticks descending from the trees in our camp....**shudder**
We crossed the spillway again. Megan surrendered the driver's seat when she came to this point on the drive up. Aint no way no how that girl was about to drive across running water. I'm okay with that. But it's actually pretty fun. Assuming, of course, that the car doesn't get swept away leading to our premature deaths.
I have enough experience to know that there is no possible chance that digging and wading won't evolve into....
sopping wet girlies daring each other to go a little further in and squealing at the chilly water. This is why we always bring an extra set of clothes when we camp! I is a smart mama.
Ryan dug himself a beach barcalounger.
We headed back to the camp and resumed making fire and preparing for the next meal. Anna made use of the campground shower and our bottle of handsoap to go take a shower. She is so independent. She just does what she wants and isn't afraid. It's fun to raise all these daughters and see how different they are from each other and from me.
Laney and Kate constructed dozens of leaf boats and put them out the sea.
We walked back down the the rocks to watch the sunset. It did not disappoint.
I love the time I have to spend with my girls and our friends in nature. Watching them talk to each other and cook up fun restores my balance and sense of well-being. Not even the hoards of baby ticks can take that away from me.
We recovered them in the morning and it worked! I'm telling you, people. Camping is magic.
We broke down our camp and packed everything back up in our van. We make a great team, we five. Everly said goodbye to her inchworm baby and left him a comfy little acorn bed and leaf blankie.
Back to quarantine we go.
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