Camping - Day One

Last summer the family of two adults and three children went to Monterey By for summer vacation. We stayed at Howard Johnson, shared meals, brought our own breakfasts and packed picnic lunches, and visited all the local sites. Over an Italian lunch Brad and I discussed this probably being one of our last big official family vacations. How can a family of six share a hotel room comfortably for long and keep up with the meals out as the kids grow and buy tickets to amusements for all the members of the family? It was then that we thought, "I guess we could go camping."

It was months ago. It was months of procrastinating. Brad grew up camping, but it's been years for him. I've been camping once with my parents. Where to begin.

So, in order to save money on family vacations we spent a ton of money buying the equipment for camping. :) Brad is sure that the more trips we take with the camping gear the cheaper it will get, so I'm sticking with that. :)

Finally! We booked, bought, planned, and packed. Off we all went to Malibu Creek State Park. What a great first experience! The campsite was beautiful. The kids didn't get to explore as much as we thought they might, because there was poison oak and huge thistles. The two older ones sped along on their scooters until we were reminded that it's California law to wear helmets. Sigh. Helmets. Schmelts! Don't tell my kids I said that! I respect authority! I do! I do!

That first day we arrived around three. After we set up the camp site we went on a little hike. We came back ready to eat hot dogs and baked beans... fail! The used camp stove we bought wouldn't light! Save! We bought a dura flame from the camp host and just practiced patience while our hot dogs and beans heated over the open flame. Brad and I grill... on a Foreman. What do we know about grilling? Nothing. We prayed that the black stuff coming off on our hot dogs wouldn't kill anyone.

Dinner was fine. We threw ran to Albertson's to spend yet more money on more equipment. This time we bought a grill that works.

Later that night we partook in the main reason I go camping... smores and roasted marshmallows! As it turns out the kids didn't like the smores. Alynna took hers apart, ate the chocolate, and left everything else. I taught Kaeley how to set the marshmallow on fire, blow out the flame, peel off the black char, eat that, and then do it all over again.

Night was fine. Everyone slept well. It was funny to see these short little kids in huge sleeping bags. Nathan woke up at four in the morning, bouncy as usual, to go to the bathroom. I didn't sleep as well as I would have at home, but not as bad as I would have expected.