S'mores, Rainbow Cupcakes, and Memories

Planning for one night shouldn't have inspired the mixture of excitement and trepidition I felt about our first camping experience with the kids.  I had lists and categories and packing strategies.  Stacy and I studied the campground map (though she is braver and jumped in feet first with two nights of camping!)

Some of my worries?  Absolutely realized.  Dirt-covered fingers ate Cheetos.  Dylan created a five o'clock shadow with lake water, wet sand, and saliva.  Wet firewood demanded an eleven p.m. Meijer run for new wood and firestarters and a quick detour to browse the Goody section for girly-girl hair accessories.

But those negatives?  Those can be easily shaken like sand from a towel. 

Abbey splashed in the shallow water like a mermaid - if mermaids had to wear Puddle Jumpers even in water up to their knees - and built and knocked over sandcastles until her teeth chattered as we wrapped her in our last dry beach towel.

Dylan developed a slight case of hero-worship for the older and cooler Connor, who taught the kids the club version of Happy Birthday, complete with the techno beat "cha cha cha". 

Speaking of birthdays, we all (pretend) celebrated with delectable Play-Doh cupcakes, swirled into a neon rainbow that thrilled the kids and made Stacy's blood pressure rise just a little bit. 

Abbey and Madison hung out and had conversations in our tent, foretelling their teenage years, as Abbey told me, "Mommy, we need privacy!"

Glow necklaces and bracelets allowed for stumbling, giggling games of Ring Around the Rosie, even as we struggled to roast marshmallows on a fire kept burning with pages of coloring books until the kids went to bed, and we were able to drive to get some dry wood.

Well after dark, tired eyes told us what smiling, sticky, s'mores faces continued to deny.  Bedtime, though so very late, happened with minimal fussing, though we may have skipped toothbrushing for the night.

And blissfully, the fire burned at last, warming the adults as we sat and chatted, laughing at old and new adventures, half an ear listening for any movement from the circle of tents surrounding us.

I crawled onto our air mattress, sandwiched between my babies, and realized the dirt hadn't won.

We'll be doing this camping thing again.

a princess tablecloth and a bunch of play-doh

five dollars worth of pre-school heaven on a table 

fascinated by the coolers

he later punched a hole in the styrofoam one 

posing for Connor

they all took turns playing photographer

going for a walk in the woods 

jamming in their jammies with glow toys

snuggles and s'mores

maybe the best part of camping