Anyone have a tent YaYa can borrow next weekend?
Published writer, compulsive reader, Old School Whovian, Match Game enthusiast, NKOTB fan, data hoarder, and - surprisingly, given that list - married with four kids. Welcome to my take on life, fatherhood, entertainment, and whatever strikes my fancy. Enjoy!
Showing posts with label camping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label camping. Show all posts
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Our Camping Trip pt 2
Once Lisa returned we took the kids to enjoy the family activites in the park. We started out on a bounce mat.
Then hit the playground.
The kids, unfortunately, were again awful. Ugh, it was not a good morning to that point.
They all wanted to hit the water park, but first I wanted to play miniature golf. We were adament that for once the kids actually play by the rules, and you can imagine how that went.
But actually, for most of the nine holes we played the kids kept it together. There was even a shocker from Smiley. When LuLu lingered near the hole on his turn, he barked "[LuLu] 'et off my gween!"
We joined in a game of musical dots, where YaYa placed second
then grabbed something to eat before hitting the water park.
This picnic basket would fill up, sound a horn as a warning, then dump the water on the bathers below. It was great, hitting you like a good massage.
As usual Lisa spent time in the water with them while I stayed on the sidelines and concentrated on looking pretty, but then an oddity: I got up and spent most of the time in the water, taking the kids down the water slides and enjoying the basket waterfall.
For a few minutes Lisa took them out of the waterpark to have a swing at a pinata.
None of them cracked it open, but they all shared the booty.
Once they returned we played in the water for quite a while, and then, at YaYa's request, hit the water balloon fight arena.
Smiley had a busted water balloon on his head, and no matter what he wouldn't take it off.
The kids were great from the moment we hit the waterpark, btw. All in all it was a fine experience, and I definitely think it won't be 22 years before I go camping again.
Then hit the playground.
The kids, unfortunately, were again awful. Ugh, it was not a good morning to that point.
They all wanted to hit the water park, but first I wanted to play miniature golf. We were adament that for once the kids actually play by the rules, and you can imagine how that went.
But actually, for most of the nine holes we played the kids kept it together. There was even a shocker from Smiley. When LuLu lingered near the hole on his turn, he barked "[LuLu] 'et off my gween!"
We joined in a game of musical dots, where YaYa placed second
then grabbed something to eat before hitting the water park.
This picnic basket would fill up, sound a horn as a warning, then dump the water on the bathers below. It was great, hitting you like a good massage.
As usual Lisa spent time in the water with them while I stayed on the sidelines and concentrated on looking pretty, but then an oddity: I got up and spent most of the time in the water, taking the kids down the water slides and enjoying the basket waterfall.
For a few minutes Lisa took them out of the waterpark to have a swing at a pinata.
None of them cracked it open, but they all shared the booty.
Once they returned we played in the water for quite a while, and then, at YaYa's request, hit the water balloon fight arena.
Smiley had a busted water balloon on his head, and no matter what he wouldn't take it off.
The kids were great from the moment we hit the waterpark, btw. All in all it was a fine experience, and I definitely think it won't be 22 years before I go camping again.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Our Camping Trip
As most of you know, our activities this year have been constricted by a lack of cash. Still, as the school year approached I felt compelled to fulfill at least one goal for the kids. So at 5 pm on a Tuesday night we started packing, and by 5:15 we were on the road in search of a campground.
It would be the first time I'd gone camping since 1987, and the first time Lisa had ever slept in a tent.
[Ginger, btw, was staying at Grandma's]
Our intent was to take the kids to a Christian campground an hour away. Not because they were a Christian business (although I'm keen to support that). No, it's a normal camping experience, but we were pleased with a side effect of their Christian 'label': I was looking to take the kids somewhere where beer and pot wouldn't be the norm. The place we had wanted to take them had developed a reputation for both of those. Fine for grown-ups, not so much for little ones.
Unfortunately storms beckoned (well planned trip, eh?) and we were eager to get the tent up. We scrapped the plans to head there.
Then we were given turn by turn directions for a state campground, but the woman must have been on crack because it lead to nowhere fast. So in the end we wound up at Jellystone Campground in Caledonia.
We were given site 229 because I'd requested one as close as possible to the shared restrooms. This was the first time we'd ever set up our brand new 7 person tent, and we needed the help of camp staff to get it up. Even with help we had to complete it by flashlight after sunset.
At that point we tried and half-succeeded in starting a fire to make smores.
I'm not gonna sugarcoat it: the kids were awful. Spoiled, bratty, and whiny. YaYa was the worst of the bunch, and I genuinely regretted going. But then a little light dawned: here they were, ages 4,6 and 7, and they were camping in the dark. "Are you scared?" I asked YaYa. She nodded, and I gave her a little more leeway.
No sooner did we finish the smores before it started to rain, and we headed inside the tent. It was larger than my first apartment, and we all had room to stretch out.
I put my blanket down by the tent door, just to make sure none of the buggers went for a walk in the night. I shouldn't have worried. The rain soon turned into a downpour, one that lasted until three in the morning.
YaYa clutched Brown Bear tight, but the thunder and wind was still working on their nerves. For a few minutes I moved the girls closer.
Like I said, the rain went on forever, and we all soon learned to block it out. The tip-tap on the tent was pretty cool, actually, like falling asleep to the sound of microwave popcorn popping.
The kids had taken their slumber couches along, but Lisa and I roughed it and slept on blankets on the ground. I had no problems sleeping, and was rather comfortable. Lisa hated it and woke up every few hours. Next time she'll bring an air mattress.
Smiley was the last kid to fall asleep, collapsing at 11:30, and I hit the sack shortly after him.
In the morning, while we were still sleeping, Lisa got up and took LuLu home with her to grab some clothes. In their absence we packed up the tent and took it down.
to be continued . . .
It would be the first time I'd gone camping since 1987, and the first time Lisa had ever slept in a tent.
[Ginger, btw, was staying at Grandma's]
Our intent was to take the kids to a Christian campground an hour away. Not because they were a Christian business (although I'm keen to support that). No, it's a normal camping experience, but we were pleased with a side effect of their Christian 'label': I was looking to take the kids somewhere where beer and pot wouldn't be the norm. The place we had wanted to take them had developed a reputation for both of those. Fine for grown-ups, not so much for little ones.
Unfortunately storms beckoned (well planned trip, eh?) and we were eager to get the tent up. We scrapped the plans to head there.
Then we were given turn by turn directions for a state campground, but the woman must have been on crack because it lead to nowhere fast. So in the end we wound up at Jellystone Campground in Caledonia.
We were given site 229 because I'd requested one as close as possible to the shared restrooms. This was the first time we'd ever set up our brand new 7 person tent, and we needed the help of camp staff to get it up. Even with help we had to complete it by flashlight after sunset.
At that point we tried and half-succeeded in starting a fire to make smores.
I'm not gonna sugarcoat it: the kids were awful. Spoiled, bratty, and whiny. YaYa was the worst of the bunch, and I genuinely regretted going. But then a little light dawned: here they were, ages 4,6 and 7, and they were camping in the dark. "Are you scared?" I asked YaYa. She nodded, and I gave her a little more leeway.
No sooner did we finish the smores before it started to rain, and we headed inside the tent. It was larger than my first apartment, and we all had room to stretch out.
I put my blanket down by the tent door, just to make sure none of the buggers went for a walk in the night. I shouldn't have worried. The rain soon turned into a downpour, one that lasted until three in the morning.
YaYa clutched Brown Bear tight, but the thunder and wind was still working on their nerves. For a few minutes I moved the girls closer.
Like I said, the rain went on forever, and we all soon learned to block it out. The tip-tap on the tent was pretty cool, actually, like falling asleep to the sound of microwave popcorn popping.
The kids had taken their slumber couches along, but Lisa and I roughed it and slept on blankets on the ground. I had no problems sleeping, and was rather comfortable. Lisa hated it and woke up every few hours. Next time she'll bring an air mattress.
Smiley was the last kid to fall asleep, collapsing at 11:30, and I hit the sack shortly after him.
In the morning, while we were still sleeping, Lisa got up and took LuLu home with her to grab some clothes. In their absence we packed up the tent and took it down.
to be continued . . .
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