HAPPY CAMPERS

Day one: unloading all the wood for the many campfires. My poor kids are always working hard!

I must admit....I was not looking forward to our yearly camping trip. It is so stressful trying to get ready and packing up just about everything that isn't nailed down! But, it was so worth it...everyone had so much fun ( the boys especially!). It was great once we were there because there was no cooking or cleaning up for me...I pretended I didn't know how to use the new grill. That was ok anyways because Brandon is in love with his new grill, so he didn't mind!!!

My biggest fear about going were all the creepy animals. I'm not what you might call an outdoorswoman. I wasn't looking forward to a friendly bear knocking at my door looking for food (or children). Thankfully, I, didn't see a bear (but the boys did...and I thought they were just yankin' my chain...but it was the first animal they saw in the park...they weren't kidding with me!). They all thought it was very cool, but me, I was on the verge of an anxiety attack. I took a couple of deep breaths and told myself everything would be fine (and it was!).

But speaking of creepy animals...the moths were terrifying. Big, small, fast, slow, ugly, ugly...you name it, they were here, there, and everywhere. Even in my pants one night. IN. MY. PANTS. Talk about the heebie-jeebies...I invented a new dance that would have won me a spot on Dancing With The Stars! That was one of the last times I used the lovely smelling outhouse. I actually had the dry heaves walking out of there one day.

Here are some pictures from the trip...

Never fear..."Superman" would save us from anything (especially with that special headlamp and those boots)

I kept the boys busy one morning...they made their own t-shirts:

And look what Michael* wrote on the back of his: (* = Brandon)

We hiked up the BEAR CAVES and the boys were brave enough to go inside:

Here is the family (almost) at the top of the BEAR CAVES:

And the boys with their most favorite cousin Kyleigh:
Notice that Mikey isn't too close to her!

We spent most of our days at the beach (hangin'out and eating snacks!)

And sometimes the boys acted just plain silly...with the help of others (we won't mention any names!) - they thought this was hilarious:

Fishing Day: Mikey = 4, Matt = 1. We have a video of Mikey catching the fish...it is so funny. If I can ever figure out how to get it on to here, I will. But until then...

Yes, this is really what Matt's feet looked like everyday....and yes, I did keep cleaning them. It was pretty useless...GROSS!!!! Mikey decided that he "hated" the mud...had to keep cleaning him each time he got a little dirt on him.

And here...is our good friend Ricky...he visited us a couple of times during our stay...almost leading me (and Rachel and Aunt Dianne into a near heart attack. He even scared a FART right out of Aunt Dianne. I'm serious.) Aunt Dianne, if your reading this, I hope I didn't embarrass you!It was just too funny.

we really had a good time despite...animals, dirty feet, dirty cabins, uncomfortable beds, dead mouse under my fridge, etc. It was definitely worth all the memories made!!!