Camping Trip #3

Camping for a week with three kids under age 5 and Matt gone most of the day turned out much better than I had expected.  Low expectations and great weather made our time fun, relaxing, and memorable.  Since we anticipated Nora waking up 8 or more times per night, the 5-6 times she did wake up was not a big deal.  We didn't anticipate me having to share my sleeping bag with her because of the cold, but I've since forgotten how poorly I slept and now only remember how sweet it was to snuggle with that little peanut.  Because despite being a stinker at night, she sure is cute! 

Matt was on the final week of his three week Physics class/workshop.  He drove down Monday at 5:30 a.m. and the kids and I followed at 9 a.m. after dropping Molly off at the kennel.  First stop when we reached Marquette was the playground for a picnic lunch and then Jilbert's ice cream by the cow. 

The kids loved the Children's Museum.  We went for a couple hours in the morning and again at 4 pm when Matt finished with class for the day.  There was plenty for all the kids to do.  Karl loved the cars and all the construction vehicles.  Clare liked just about everything, especially the toy store and the recycled-material project area. 

It didn't take long for the kids to get their faces dirty. 

Nora, in her typical way, cried and howled before falling asleep - protesting going to bed when everyone else was still awake and having fun.  Our little social butterfly pulled and pulled on the tent door until the zipper slipped and she could peer out at us sitting around the campfire. 

The kids loved playing in the water at Black Rocks on Presque Isle.  Socks, shoes, and pants have never inhibited Karl from playing in the water.  Later in the week, he fell in fully clothed.  The evening waves lifted him up and suddenly he was bobbing, holding his head carefully above water until Matt could haul him out.  We wanted to make sure that little experience wouldn't scare him, so...
Matt: You went swimming, Karl!  Was it fun?
Karl: Yes.
Matt: Do you want to do it again?
Karl: No.

Despite having So. Much. Trouble. falling asleep and staying asleep in a tent, crib, or pack 'n play, Nora sleeps well in her car seat and stroller.  The last night of camping when she woke at 4 a.m. and wanted to play, squeal, and cry, I popped her in her car seat in the van where she promptly fell asleep.  I didn't sleep quite as well on the hard floor of the van with no pillow or sleeping bag.   (I say this to remember that camping wasn't all bliss.) 

We got one great beach day in - warm water, blue skies, friends to play with... all the kids had a great time.

These five little construction vehicles kept Karl entertained for an entire week.

After 4 nights and 5 days of long, fun days, no naps and late nights, Karl climbed into the van at 8:30 in the morning and said, "Mom, drive home."  So we packed up camp and were on the road by 10 a.m.  A few days later he was saying, "Go camping?"  So the memories Karl made must have been just as good as the memories I have of that week.