To be very honest with you, your mother and I had serious apprehensions about taking you camping so young. We had seen your Uncle Jacob and Aunt Alissa take your cousin Addison camping last year but she was almost a year old. And of course there were challenges so we wondered a bit about how hard it would be with you. Let me summarize the camping experience thus, you and your cousin Chloe were the easiest babies to deal with the entire weekend. Chloe because she slept almost the whole time, and you because you slept well and were awake happily. But let's break it down day by day.
Day 1
We started on Thursday morning. We had planned to meet up with your Aunt Nicole and cousin Bryson to caravan to the camp site at 25 Mile Creek State Park on Lake Chelan. We had planned to leave at 10AM and did a fairly good job of it. We finished up packing and hit the road just after 10 thanks to your mom's great packing job and hard work the day before. (Incidentally I hadn't seen you at all the day before as I didn't see you before I went to work and then went to Enumclaw to help Nicole's boss with his home computers and I wasn't any help to your mom getting everything ready.)
You fell asleep in the car and were in a general good mood the entire trip. We stopped in Wenatchee to get lunch and pick up some things we had forgotten (we needed pillows and Nicole needed gifts for Addison and Evan's birthdays amongst other things she picked up). The rest of the way to the camp site wasn't far so we figured you would be fine, but you had to prove us wrong. You are very good at doing that. About 15 minutes outside the camp site you started fussing and couldn't be consoled. Good thing we weren't far away.
Once we got to the park your mom took you out of the car seat to calm you down while Nicole and I checked in. We had reserved three campsites for the weekend. After checking in with the park attendant we drove around to find the campsites. Upon finding them and standing around in them for a few minutes we determined that we had camp site envy. Our sites were small and had no grass. Not good for 6 families and three walking toddlers. The next three campsites down were grassy, still shady and bigger! So we asked the attendant and he approved our move! Success!! Not surprising since the park was almost empty and there were hardly any reservations.
Then began the process of setting up the tent. Shortly after un-boxing the tent and realizing the directions were useless your Gramma and Grandpa Compton showed up along with Jacob, Alissa, Addison and Chloe and Uncle Joe and Aunt Dani (no matter what she says it is Dani not Danielle). We finished setting up the camp sites, sat around and visited until it was night time.
You, my curious little missy, spent a lot of time looking around discovering the surroundings. You spent some time in your bumbo so your mom could help set up and got to be held by all kinds of different people you don't see every day.
Night time was a little different. Starting the day before we went camping you fought going to sleep. You fought it good. You fought the good fight like sleep was Hitler trying to invade a Polish day care. So putting you to sleep was a little harder than normal. But considering that we were outdoors and it was pretty cold, you did very well. We had you in warm jammies and swaddled and, according to your mom, you slept very well. Good job! Your dad didn't even sleep that well. I didn't think it was cold enough to warrant wearing socks but it was! So I woke up several times trying to stay warm.
Day 2
The second day was very laid back. We waited around the camp site for uncle Steve and Aunt Michelle to come with cousins Owen and Evan. The plan was maybe to go on a hike or rent a boat once they got there, but that never really materialized and the whole day was pretty much spent at camp. Some people went down to the lake for a bit. And most everyone randomly went on walks around the park. That is what your mom and I did to get you to fall asleep during the day. Took you for a little walk and you were out.
Since this was actually Addison's birthday and Evan's isn't too far away from that, we celebrated with Strawberry Rhubarb crisp and Peach Cobbler. Way cooler than just plain old cake. Both kids got presents and seemed to enjoy them. Evan got to play with his at camp and both he and Owen seemed to enjoy it. Alissa sent pictures of Addison playing with her presents after she got home and her face says it all!
Today we started to see some more campers show up and fill in some of the vacant camp sites around us. Not the ones we left, however. I think most people realized those sites were not the best. We had some people move in across the way from us and the first camper to show up there was a lady all by herself. Your mom and I noticed that she was having trouble setting up her tent and your mom said we should go help. I was a little reluctant because it could have been awkward but your mom insisted and I am glad she did. We went over and she was VERY grateful for the assistance.
Today we started to see some more campers show up and fill in some of the vacant camp sites around us. Not the ones we left, however. I think most people realized those sites were not the best. We had some people move in across the way from us and the first camper to show up there was a lady all by herself. Your mom and I noticed that she was having trouble setting up her tent and your mom said we should go help. I was a little reluctant because it could have been awkward but your mom insisted and I am glad she did. We went over and she was VERY grateful for the assistance.
Sleep was the same for you, but better for your mom and I as I wore socks and uncle Steve let us borrow an indoor propane heater. That took the edge off the cold.
Day 3
The third day was a lot of the same again, only everyone was there in the morning. In the afternoon because it was such a nice day the decision was made the rent a boat. An expensive decision but everyone had lots of fun on it. Especially uncle Jacob. We rented a tube with it and people got pulled behind the boat. I would have preferred skis but not everyone could do that and the water wasn't glass smooth so skiing wouldn't have been very easy. The down side is while I was riding the tube I shifted my weight to try and "steer" or at least not fall off and aggravated a shoulder injury. Nothing serious but when I tried to climb into the boat I couldn't use my left arm at all.
By the end of the third day all the camp sites were full. The camp site just next to us had people move in pretty late. They were cooking dinner at 9PM. They were cleaning their dishes at 10:30 when it was supposed to be quiet time. At about 1AM uncle Jacob actually had to yell out to some people (we think our neighbors) to be quiet because they were making a ruckus and we were all trying to sleep.
The third night was actually not as cold. And everything other than the noise went smoothly.
Day 4
After breakfast we struck camp and headed to Chelan for a picnic then going our separate ways. But while we struck camp we got to see the character of our noisy, late neighbors. By the time breakfast was done and we were striking camp it was 9-9:30AM. The neighbors started rousing and the first thing they did was smoke. Worse than that was they were smoking with a toddler of their own. Needless to say your mom and I were not thrilled. The sooner we could leave the better in my mind.
Once we did leave we got to a beach in Chelan and had a lovely picnic. You were pretty tired so once you fell asleep we decided to head home. Unfortunately that did not last long. We had to pull over outside of Cle Elum to feed you and change you. From then on it was smooth sailing all the way home. And I already mentioned the laugh we got out of you, that was priceless!
And that was camping. Nothing really exciting but exciting all the same. You will never remember your first time camping, but it is a big achievement. If nothing else it was a good change of pace and we got lots of cute pictures!
Day 3
The third day was a lot of the same again, only everyone was there in the morning. In the afternoon because it was such a nice day the decision was made the rent a boat. An expensive decision but everyone had lots of fun on it. Especially uncle Jacob. We rented a tube with it and people got pulled behind the boat. I would have preferred skis but not everyone could do that and the water wasn't glass smooth so skiing wouldn't have been very easy. The down side is while I was riding the tube I shifted my weight to try and "steer" or at least not fall off and aggravated a shoulder injury. Nothing serious but when I tried to climb into the boat I couldn't use my left arm at all.
By the end of the third day all the camp sites were full. The camp site just next to us had people move in pretty late. They were cooking dinner at 9PM. They were cleaning their dishes at 10:30 when it was supposed to be quiet time. At about 1AM uncle Jacob actually had to yell out to some people (we think our neighbors) to be quiet because they were making a ruckus and we were all trying to sleep.
The third night was actually not as cold. And everything other than the noise went smoothly.
Day 4
After breakfast we struck camp and headed to Chelan for a picnic then going our separate ways. But while we struck camp we got to see the character of our noisy, late neighbors. By the time breakfast was done and we were striking camp it was 9-9:30AM. The neighbors started rousing and the first thing they did was smoke. Worse than that was they were smoking with a toddler of their own. Needless to say your mom and I were not thrilled. The sooner we could leave the better in my mind.
Once we did leave we got to a beach in Chelan and had a lovely picnic. You were pretty tired so once you fell asleep we decided to head home. Unfortunately that did not last long. We had to pull over outside of Cle Elum to feed you and change you. From then on it was smooth sailing all the way home. And I already mentioned the laugh we got out of you, that was priceless!
And that was camping. Nothing really exciting but exciting all the same. You will never remember your first time camping, but it is a big achievement. If nothing else it was a good change of pace and we got lots of cute pictures!
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