Camping Trip!

We had really wanted to go camping this summer but knew that the days and weeks were just flying by.  So we had talked about it, but nothing was really coming together.  Well, until I woke up Friday morning and saw this little sticky note from Peter.....

Yeah, it was "just an idea"  How about I pack up all the stuff while he's at work?  Delightful!

Though actually it's not really that complicated because our stuff is all together in our upstairs storage and I was able to make a quick grocery run for some easy meals.  I got everything ready, got myself and Benjamin ready, and after he woke up from his nap (okay, we actually woke him up so we could leave) we were off!

We had intended to go to a camping site we'd been to before about 40 minutes from us but it was full and so was everything else around it.....so we drove a little further and found a great site about 6 minutes or so from Clear Lake.  We were grateful to have found a site and in such a pretty little spot.

We got set up.....

Benjamin was happy to play all the accessible sticks

the site wasn't too bad all in all

our little family tent.  A little cozy now that we have Benjamin but we survive

the setup

the view from the edge of our campsite

the pretty little creek right on the edge of our campsite

then headed to Clear Lake for a little walk before dinner.

we had a nice clear view of the Three Sisters on the drive there

ready to get on the trail for a little walk

me and my sweet boy

happy little boy on a big tree stump

such a pretty lake

we didn't walk for terribly long but it was a beautiful little walk

throwing rocks into one of the streams

Benjamin insisted on being carried by Mommy so I had to carry him most of the way back

see how clear the water is?

this is seriously my new favorite picture.  I love, love, love my two boys

We came back to our site for a yummy dinner, and smores and just spent fun time together as a family.

cozy in his hoodie, and always on the move

happy as a clam digging in the tree while Mommy made dinner

Daddy teaching his son how to make a campfire

he may or may not cheat and use lighter fluid!  ha!  It gets the job done :-)

Hot dogs, corn on the cob and applesauce!

he was soooo excited to be outside and camping!

roasting a marshmallow with Daddy (he didn't eat it but enjoyed the process)

finishing a few marshmallows over the fire

Eventually it was time for Benjamin to go to sleep and he only cried for about 2 1/2 minutes before falling asleep.  

all cozy in his fleece pj's

reading his Bible stories with Daddy

And we spent the rest of the evening sitting by the fire, eating marshmallows and catching up.  It was sooo nice to be outside and we really enjoyed our evening.

Of course, our pleasant evening was short-lived when Benjamin woke up at 1am so we pulled him into our sleeping bag with us, but he's not used to sleeping with us at all, so he just tossed and turned for an hour before we finally put him back in his playpen.  He slept great........until about 6:45.  Oh joy!  Peter let me sleep a little bit longer and then I made breakfast for everyone and we just enjoyed a nice morning together.

I'm so glad I brought along our shovels and buckets.  He had a blast digging in the dirt.  All boy he is

so content and cute with his shovels

it was such a beautiful sunny morning at the campground

eggs, sausage and english muffins for breakfast!

after we were finished the blue jay decided to eat Benjamin's leftover cheerios :-)

Then we headed off to do a trail near Clear Lake that follows along the McKenzie River and has 3 different waterfalls.  It was about a 3 mile loop and it was such a gorgeous walk and such a gorgeous day.  We were loving being outside together and really enjoyed it.

so pretty

Peter was a champ carrying around our "little" 30 pound son :-)

my boys love to hike around outside

walking across a cool tree bridge

we had a river view almost the entire 3 mile hike, it was great

I'm always the one taking pictures, but Peter wanted one of me to prove I was there

our little guy fell asleep on the hike (soooo shocking after his quality sleep the night before, ha ha ha!)

the water was just so clear and pretty

Benjamin's nap was shortlived so we let him out of the pack so he could walk a little bit

it was perfect timing for Benjamin to walk since we arrived at a fun little reservoir he could explore

one of the many beautiful views of the waterfalls, complete with a pretty rainbow

Afterward, we found a little campsite for a picnic lunch before we headed home for the evening.

he ran down the hill over and over and over.  It's the little things in life for our little guy!

oh, we love you Benjamin

so happy to be dirty and enjoying a handful of M&M's for dessert!!

We came home, unpacked, got showers/baths (Ben was SO filthy!) and Benjamin was wiped so he had a bit of an early bedtime.  He absolutely looooved being outside and camping and it was such a fun memory for us as a family.  Maybe we'll find another weekend to go camping before summer is officially over?  We hope so!