Warning: This is a long entry!

For over a year now Hailey has wanted to go camping. Outside in a real tent. When she was 2 I got her this very cute castle tent. She loves it. It comes out every now and then and she always asks us if we can take it outside. She got her first sleeping bag for her birthday when she turned four because she wanted to go camping so bad. IT FINALLY HAPPENED. WE TOOK HER CAMPING!

I knew we would have a few extra days at the lake over the 4th of July. Smokey purchased some land about 20 minutes from the lake house. It is a beautiful piece of property with pretty lake access and views. One part of it even has some little cabins on it that I would have loved to stay in for Girl's Camp. They even have air conditioning! We haven't seen it yet but a fox and her babies are there too. She likes to hide in the outdoor chapel roof.

I packed some stuff to camp and Brady packed his gigantic telescope. Since we would have the whole property basically to ourselves, I knew the night sky would probably be fabulous and it was. I didn't pack our tent because the cats I had a few years back sprayed it and ruined it. Dang ole cats! We were going to borrow Smokey's tent that was in his trailer but time got away and we got to the campsite a wee bit too late. He wound up buying a new tent and began putting it up in the dark for us basically. I enjoyed the night hanging out with the kids and talking while Brady began getting familiar with his telescope again. We looked at the stars and had fun looking at Jupiter (my favorite planet). At about 11:00 I noticed that Hunter felt warm on his tummy and head. Something out of the ordinary for him. I knew something was up because he was extra clingy. At about 11:45, Hailey and I needed to use the restroom so I drove up to the bathrooms. When I returned, I took Hunter's temperature and he did indeed have a fever. I gave him Tylenol. I stayed up for a bit with Brady but went to bed to keep a better eye on Hunter (and I don't do well without sleep). Brady came to bed about 5:30 or so. At 5:45 Hunter threw up and had a bowel movement. Not a pleasant one either. One that I got the pleasure of getting on me! We decided it would be best to abandon camp and go back to the lake house. So we packed up sleepy Hailey and drove back to the lake house and crashed. I gave Hunter some more Tylenol at 9:00. From then on out he got better. Clingy but better other than the bowels so we decided to try camping out again. It worked out a wee bit better this time because we got there early enough to enjoy the sunset and the campsite before dark. We cooked a meal and shot off the rest of Hailey's kid fireworks. The wind felt great but once we got into the tent it was too stuffy. Once Brady removed the rain cover, it was beautiful! The only thing about camping out is that morning time comes WAY TO EARLY! About 6:00 a few crows started gathering and squawking. Hunter shot up out of bed with a huge smile on his face and wanted to know what that was. He bounced on the air beds as Brady and I tried our best to arise. Didn't take long. Hailey woke up shortly thereafter. After getting dressed, she began asking us about a zillion times to take her to the swings. Her favorite spot on the property. Brady took some pictures of the sunrise and we headed off to the swings. I had planned for Brady to cook us breakfast but we opted for donuts instead. The kids explored and we took down camp. It was a good campout for their first time. Now that we have the perfect spot, I hope to camp more with them- in the FALL. I don't mind camping at all then. I just don't like hanging out in the summer time during the heat of the day. So thank you Smokey for helping us out with the tent and the the little extras. We had a great time and plan to go back!

P.S. This was Hunter's fist time to run a fever. Maybe he got too hot and played hard outside. His upset tummy could have been from the half of black beetle that he munched down before telling me it was yucky or the peanut butter cracker that I found him eating (probably from digging in the trash can), or the bubble solution from trying to learn how to blow bubbles. Who knows!

ThT

Taking down camp! It was windy still so Hailey was helping hold down the corner so Brady could put up the tent.