Camping!

Our camping trips have been slowly evolving. When it was just Jared and I, we would often backpack to a remote site for a long weekend with a tent that weighed just shy of four pounds. Hiking ten miles a day would be nothing. Then came Elsi. One of her first possessions was a doggie backpack so she could carry her own supplies. She didn't slow us down much, just took up some extra space in the tent. Then came Clara. Now we had to look in the "family camping" section and invest in a monstrous six-person tent that comes in its own backpack and weighs nearly 20 pounds. Needless to say, our backpacking days are over for a while, but we won't give up camping. Clara has her own sleeping bag and usually tells us when it's time to go to bed in the tent. Then came Charlie. I was nervous that he wouldn't share our love of camping based on the failed attempt over Memorial Day weekend, but last weekend, he proved me wrong. We spent three nights at Pillsbury State Park in Washington, New Hampshire with our good friends, Amy and Jay and their kids, Anna and Jack. We had a great time.

There was plenty of dirt and mess.

There were sparklers.

There was definitely snoring.

There was sun and sand.

There were boat rides and fishing.

There was a wood chopping lesson,

and a dance lesson.

(video)

Even though Charlie was already in bed during the dance lesson, he is convinced that camping is a good time!