Camping Day 1

Last year we never made it camping and Ally was quite disappointed - (Becky too, since she loves it even more than Ally) - so we were determined to go this summer. In a stroke of genius Becky suggested Ally sleep on her air mattress in her sleeping a few nights to practice for camping. We were planning on only going for one night, because I don't sleep well in a tent and Ally's past attempts were less than great. Here is Ally in her sleeping bag ready for bed in her room.

At home turning off the TV all ready to get in the car for the drive to the campground.

While Becky set up the campsite I took Ally for a walk in the woods.

When we got to this spot Ally kept saying how beautiful the view was and how much she liked it.

Once the site was set up it was time for fishing. Becky as it turns out is quite the successful fisher woman  - it must be the Buzz Lightyear fishing pole we have.

Alice and her mom arrived while Ally and Becky were fishing so I brought Alice down to the lake to join them while Cheryl set up their campsite. Alice and I got there just in time to see a fish that Ally caught! Alice touched it!!!

It was SUPER hot - in the 90s so after fishing we headed out to the swimming hole.  It just looks deep but its really only about 4'.

Ally loved playing in the sand.

Alice brought some cool water shooting tubes. Ally enjoyed spraying the beach.

These two are such good friends!

Back at the campsite after swimming. Ally was hard at work on a nature scavenger hunt I made for the girls.

Alice looks so grown up in this picture.

Alice decided it was time to get in her pajamas. She went in her tent and came out with this scarf wrapped around her body - nothing else! I offered her Ally's extra pajamas and she agreed to put those on instead of the scarf.

Here is a shot of our campsite. Ally seriously sat and colored for a long time.

After dinner it was time to roast marshmallows. We laughed at how far away Ally was from the fire!

She did get a little closer, but said it was too hot for her. And since Ally prefers her marshmallows raw and not toasted I got to do them myself!

True to form, Ally stuck with plain chocolate and not mixed with graham crackers and toasted marshmallows in s'mores form.

Cheryl savors a s'more

Its not camping without popcorn over the fire. Becky worked so hard making dinner I popped the corn.

After popcorn the girls decided to work on a fairy house. They collected all kinds of rocks and laid them out. Alice said they were making a very stable fairy stable (for the fairies to keep their dragonflies in).

Soon it was time for bed. Ally was so tired she asked for about 20 minutes to go to sleep - but it takes time to settle the site, go to the restroom and brush teeth. She was pretty exhausted.
We were too.
It took Ally a while to get to sleep, and finally she fell asleep cuddled with me on my air mattress.
Ally and Becky slept well.
Me not so much, but I expect that now.
Camping is so much hard work, but it was a fantastic time.

Next up - day 2 and blueberry picking!