First Camping Trip

Last weekend Michael, Eden, and I went on our first camping trip.  Several families from our church class got together and went to DeGray Lake National Park and camped.  We had the absolute best time ever.  We left Harper with my parents.  I'm sure she would have loved it too but it was so nice to not have to worry about her getting down for naps and so forth.  We got to the camp area around six on Friday night and stayed two nights  and got home around one on Sunday and then picked up Harper.  The Haustein's let us borrow a tent so we could try camping without having to spend tons of money if we didn't like it.  Well we loved it.  They also let us split food costs since they had all the supplies to cook with and Hans is a professional camp chef=)  They completely spoiled us by having our tent put up when we got there and cooking (gourmet meals) for us all weekend.  No wonder we had so much fun!

There were seven families that went (us, the Haustein's, both Bittle families, the Dyniewski's, the Neese's, and the Hawkin's).  I think having other families around made is so much fun too.  Eden played nonstop with all the kids the entire weekend.  I feel like we never saw her because she was having too much fun with everyone else.  On Friday night, we got there and had a fabulous dinner prepared for us (bacon wrapped chicken, corn on the cob, and baked potatoes with all the fixings) and fixed the inside of our tent up.  It tried raining a few times but only sprinkled which was great. The weather that night was perfect and felt incredible.  People slowly started arriving on Friday night and setting up their things.  We did s'mores and hung our around the fire until about 10:30 pm and then we started going to bed.

Eden hanging out around the fire on Friday night.

Jackson and Eden.  Are they not the cutest together;)

Jackson, Emma, and Hannah around the fire.

Angie and Paul Haustein 

Michael and Eden

Our fam camping

The tent we slept in and borrowed.  It was perfect!

Saturday we woke up and hung around camp for a little bit.  Hans fixed us awesome breakfast burritos that were awesome and coffee.  The park offers free activities so several us went to a wildflower thing and the girls and some boys made wildflower necklaces.  Then after lunch we went to the lake front to swim and tube off of Matthew's boat.  It was the best time.  After swimming and tubing, everyone had a big cookout together.  We all had hamburgers and hot dogs, chips, other sides, and a peach and blueberry cobblers that were made in a dutch oven.  They were delicious.  Of course, we also had s'mores again when it got dark=)  Saturday night was much warmer in the tent but we slept fine.  Eden snores really bad so I had her in my ear all night long.

Emma and Eden.  Hannah was on the other bed and they were all hanging out in the Dyniewski's tent.

Eden bike riding.  All the kids shared two bikes and a scooter.  They took turns over and over and had the best time racing.  There ended up being several skinned knees and elbows.

Making her wildflower necklaces.

Holding up their pretty necklaces they made.  

Lake time.  We swam and swam.  Then we all took turns going out on Matthew's boat.  Eden and Michael tubed together and then I went.  I hadn't done that in forever.  I loved doing it in high school with Meagan on her dads boat.  Those were such fun times.  

Hanging around the camp site on Saturday night.

Emma invited Hannah to come since the rest of her family couldn't make it.  They are such sweet friends.

Paul and Eden hanging out together.

All the kids minus Jackson.  For some reason he jumped off and wanted nothing to do with the picture.

Carter, Jackson, Emma, and Hannah

The older girls sitting around the fire.  I love how Eden has her legs crossed.  She has recently just started doing that.  It cracks me up.

Sunday morning we had pancakes, sausage, and eggs prepared by Hans for breakfast.  Then we all got together for a little church service and had communion together.  That is such a special time.  

Matthew and Julie on Sunday morning.

Josh and Kelly

Layne and Ivy, Casey was somewhere

Our "host" family, The Haustein's (Paul, Angie, and Hans)

Us

Jason, Crystal, and Jace Hawkins

I guess I didn't get a picture of the Dyniewski's.  We are sad that they are moving to Texas this month.  Justin is a doctor and they are moving closer to their families=(  We will have to meet them half way or something and all camp together again.  We had the best time and we are all hoping to go again in the fall.  I really hope we will.  It was great being together with other families and friends.  This was a wonderful first time camping trip for us as a family and we can't wait to go again!