Camping, 2013 Part Deux

Getting Ready for Bed... We debated whether we should break our family up between two tents, or all smoosh together into our 3-4 man tent this year. We chose that later, and it went very well. Next year, though, we're thinking that with growing girls, we'll need a bigger tent.

When Emily and Addison went on their first camping trip, they slept in a super insulated pack-n-play. That wasn't really an option for Elizabeth this year, so we bundled her up nice and cozy.

We put Emily and Addison to bed in the tent and went to sit by the fire with Doug and Kirstin and Elizabeth. We heard lots of giggling coming from the tent, and we kept seeing little blond heads poke out of the tent door. We assumed Emily and Addison were just doing a little spying, but we went to check on them after hearing a sleepy Addison yell, "Emmie dirt!" We found the entire tent floor and all the sleeping bags were covered with dirt! She'd been scooping dirt from outside and sprinkling it all over the tent! Emily's mission of turning the tent into a giant sandbox hadto come to an end when her sister just couldn't take it anymore and wanted to go to sleep! We emptied and cleaned the tent as best we could by flashlight, and laid the girls back down, and they were asleep within ten minutes.

Elizabeth got to cuddle between me and Emily.

Good Morning!

The morning started out with a little camping breakfast, a tiny morning fire (it was pretty chilly!), and some hammock time for Elizabeth.

 

 

 

 

 

Then it was off for another little hike.

 

There were lots of lean-tos and teepees along the trail, and we explored inside a lot of them. This one had an elaborate shelving system inside and there were different sized sticks on each of the shelves. Some creative outdoor play had been going on here for sure.

 

 

 

What a great camping trip. Kenosha Pass was a hit, I'm sure we'll be back!

Camping, 2013

Happy Campers!

We took our annual camping trip with Doug and Kirstin in August, and had a great time as usual! This year we stayed in the Kenosha Pass campground. A great little hiking trail, the Colorado Trail, runs right through the campground, so 2 year old sized hikes were readily available. The site was really pretty, with plenty of trees and flat spots for tents. Good find, Chris!

Doug and Kir show Elizabeth around the campsite

 Kirstin brought her hammock again, and this year, the girls got to help her set it up!

Em, the little mountain climber

Addie - she has her hammock rope, but hats and baby Anna are equally important!

Emily was super psyched to help Uncle Doug set up his tent. Doug and Kir both have lots of summer camp experience with kiddos and show endless patience to little ones. 

Addie was super psyched to spend some time in our tent after it was set up. 

Zippers!!

Elizabeth shouted out orders while chillin' in her bumbo.

Let's go for a little pre-dinner hike!

Riding high!

We found mushrooms! 

And flowers!

Campfire time!

Elizabeth got the good ol' wide-eyed fire stare going, and Addie was close by to offer cuddles.

Big smiles from our littlest camper.

And then...Emily found DIRT. And she found that she LOVED getting dirty. 

Oh yeah, I think you'd call this a dirt bath.

Silly messy girl!

Before heading to bed, Kirstin helped Addie and Emily re-toast some cheese quesadillas they'd been too excited to eat at dinner.

Marshmallows - A Year-Round Treat

Today we went out to play in the snow that we got over the weekend. It took about 20 minutes to get all suited up for the snow, and then after about 15 minutes outside, Addison had had enough, so we came back in and warmed up with some hot cocoa.

While the girls noshed on marshmallows, it struck me ~When was the last time they'd tasted a marshmallow? This summer, when we went camping with Doug and Kirstin! And did I ever post pictures from that camping trip? No, I did not! So here you have it, a Summer and Winter fun-times post!

First Up: Marshmallows in July 

Earlier that day...

We camped outside Keystone right by Lake Dillon

Heading out for a hike

Our camping buddies Doug and Kirstin

Wading in Lake Dillon

Emily touching the water

Addison got right into the sand (and ate some of course!)

Addie's big accomplishment was climbing over this log at the campsite again and again!

Emily loved swinging in the hammock with Kirstin

She was still a knee walker back then!

Getting ready for dinner

Uncle Doug, making a fancy camp dinner, as usual

Addie says, "mmmm chips!"

Where there's food, there are happy toddlers!

Walking with Dad

Camp Fire!

Getting ready for bed

Breakfast time! 

Addie kisses the tree bye bye

Another little hike before heading back home

5 weeks pregnant (trying to recapture the same beginning shot)

And then come Marshmallows in November!

Hot cocoa tastes best topped with marshmallows, and it feels best in your belly when you're still a little chilly from being outside on a cold day.

Marshmallows straight up...mmmmmm!

Earlier...

Gotta give it a taste test

Emily wanted to trample all through the snow

Addie was ready to get inside for her hot cocoa!