Last night, at 6:30, as I was picking up the boys from AWANA, husband text messaged me, “Want to go camping?… Tonight?”
That’s funny, right? Just pick up and go camping! I mean we used to do stuff like that… up and decide to go to the beach in the middle of the night, run out to the lake with nothing but the clothes on our backs… but we have children now, which means we now PLAN these things. We have to make lists and stuff.
My first instinct was to say no….
but I knew the boys would completely freak if I picked them up saying, “Hey guys, guess where we are going tonight? So, I texted back, “Yeah! Why not?”
It was crazy insane to try to pack up, throw some food in the cooler and hit the road in the dark.
The boys were completely over the big fat full moon with glee.
We put up the tent (great fun in the dark).
We read stories by camplight.
We froze half to death (even with the most ginormous pile of blankets ever).
Then, we woke to this:
Our sweet Daddy, braved the cold to cook our breakfast while we huddled, entwining ourselves like snakes under our blankets. Dear Lord, how I love the smell of bacon in the morning.
After we ate and poured down a little caffeine, the the fog lifted (both the internal and external sort), and the view got even grander.
We hiked (3 miles! – a long way for little legs!), made good use of our field guides and nature sketchbooks, and still have some fishing and boat riding, fire building, hot dog eating and smore making left to accomplish.
We’re having such a grand time, that I’ve run home for more blankets, and more food, so that we can stay another night. (Add to that a warm shower and 2.3 seconds to blog!)
Until tomorrow then, picture me here, shivering, but fully content!
{ 31 comments }
Wow!! how much fun!!! looks beautiful.
being spontaneous is so much fun! hope you are warm out there tonight!
the smell of bacon (and the taste, of course) will single-handedly guarantee that i will never become a vegetarian. and combined with that fog? what a great trip.
Very cunning to offer to do the blanket run (and bathroom visit!). Spontaneous fun just can’t be beaten. Enjoy the rest of your trip.
Oh my gosh that looks amazing. Maybe we need to go camping this weekend. After the week I’m already having, that sounds like the best idea in the world. Is it really only Monday?
Have a wonderful time!
you showered? cheater.
i would love to pack up right now and go camping, you make it sound soooo fantastic! And i could almost smell that bacon myself! -kb
So beautiful, and inspiring too. I hope my boy grows up with a similar family energy. Enjoy!
What fun! Have a marvelous time tonight too
Okay, I am not a camper…but you could almost talk me into it. Almost.
~kris
I’m so envious, and I’m not even a camper! That sure sounds like fun!
Oh wow Stefani, how fabulous. We’re a camping family too (well, now that the children are a bit older we are). Nothing quite like open skies and cooking outdoors. Hope you have a wonderful time – this is definitely the stuff childhoods are made of!
Love the picture with the fog!! And bacon is the best when camping. Sounds like you’re having the best time.
Wow, that looks like so much fun!!!! I’ve always wanted to take my (one) boy camping, but I’m scared to do it just me and him – you know, out in the woods, some single gal and her kid. Sounds like the plot to a scary movie. lol Or maybe I’m just being paranoid……..but I SO want to go!!!! Your photos are WONDERFUL!!!!
Fabulous.
love the new banner! Sometimes we lay in bed at night…and say “let’s go to Denny’s” which you know pre-kid was doable. Now…the only time one of us wants to go to Denny’s the kids are asleep…and oh yeah they closed that Dennys.
There is totally a connection between your story and mine…even if I’m the only one that sees it.
dang.
so good.
so incredibly good.
in the moments here of schedule-awareness, this sounds heavenly.
enjoy, enjoy…as i know you are.
Oh, how jealous am I?!
(very.)
this is so absolutely good.
and that fog picture? with the birds? geesh. I get some mornings like that here, so I know how beautiful that must have been in person.
have fun you spontaneous camper!
Oh! To be that spontaneous again! We never do that now that we have kids… I think I need to plan a little spontaneity. (I suppose that’s an oxymoron, eh?) Thanks for sharing – it looks just wonderful!
How wonderful that your DH could be spontaneous enough to suggest it, and that you could be sport enough to go on such short notice. Another great memory!
I’m a planner, myself, and find it hard to just let go and let the cards fall where they may. I’m glad you didn’t miss out on something wonderful.
Looks like a great time! The picture of the fog on the lake is beautiful!
Enjoy!
So, cool!
My husband loves being spontaneous if he thinks of it – but if it’s my idea, then he has a hard time adjusting.
The fog on the lake with the birds… I want to camp, too!
oooohhhhhh…. those are memories in the making for your boys to tell their kids, and for you to tell your grandkids.
My sister once said ‘that was a solid’ walk, after a long hike when we were kids!
I so love that you came home to blog for us, and shower. All on the pretence of needing more blankets. (That’s what I imagine those nature show people do).
That mist, the birds, the reflections… ahhhh
What a memory this will be.
We’ve been talking about camping lately. Thanks for the motivation! Where do you go???
Oh fun! Last minute trips are the best!
Stumbled across your blog through a friends site. We live out in Midland Texas! Weather sure is great this time of year in texas for camping.
fan. tas. tic.
yay for spontenaity! and for bacon!
Sounds like loads of fun–besides the freezing part, which would have kept me awake all night!
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