Summer Camping Trip - 7/13

Date: Jul 13th

For Ryan's birthday each year we usual do a family staycation at our fave local resorts.

This year I decided we should do something different

that he would still equally enjoy.

So against my better judgement,

I offered the idea of camping.

Yes tent camping.

Yes raw wilderness tent camping with no facilities or running water

and with 4 kids including 2 toddlers.

So we went ahead and planned it along with Poppy and the nephews/niece.

We continually monitored the forecast.

It had rained every day in the valley and also up north where we were going.

Most people were cancelling their weekend plans up north

due to the forecast of nonstop rain all weekend.

But oh not us.

I let the men decide whether we were still going or not.

(yes that was against my better judgement too! lol)

So we trudged on and oh what a soaking wet but fun weekend it was!!

The big kids helped me prep the foil dinners that morning before we left.

As usual it got creative and competitive.

I didn't have the heart to tell Taylee her smiley face 

wouldn't look the same after it cooked in coals! lol

Then we packed up half of our house into the bed of truck

and took off for our 48 hour adventure.

We didn't make it a mile before our tarp blew off and we had to stop and adjust.

Then we didn't even make it from that spot before the rain started.

And then it rained and rained almost the whole 2 hr drive to the mountains!!

Luckily the rain had stopped by the time we found the perfect camp spot.
So then we spent the next 4 hours unloading the truck and trailer
and setting up everything.
Of course while tag teaming on who was on Eastlie patrol.
Man camping is A LOT of work! lol

A few hours later Poppy and the cousins showed up.
My kids were plenty excited about that!!
We made dinner, rode quads and chilled by the campfire!
Oh that was the BEST part about it being so rainy that week,
Arizona finally lifted the fire ban and also open up the forest!
Phew!! Because it's just not camping without a fire!!

Another joy of raw camping! lol

We were all situated in tents for bed when the rain started.

Then came the extra prayers that we didn't get washed out during the night.

Or eaten by bugs.

Either sounds miserable! lol