We took the kiddos camping the weekend before last — the twins first camping experience, and our first with them. It was … interesting. Unfortunately, we had the worst possible weather for camping — in the 90s and very, very humid, followed by wild storms that lasted all night long.
We have been trying to get a camping trip together with our neighbors for close to four years. Our plans were somewhat interrupted by my pregnancy and then the arrival of Colin and Veronica. So this year, we were determined to make it work, and we decided to join them on their annual Father’s Day camping trip to the Kankakee River State Park.
John thought he was going to be working that weekend, so my sister agreed to join us so I wouldn’t have to try to keep an eye on all three kids by myself. Fortunately, at the last minute John was able to wrap up his work and come along for the fun. (He may have regretted that later, but …)
We hadn’t been to Kankakee in years, so I made sure I printed out directions from Google maps before we left. We loaded up the van, loaded up the people, and away we went … to the Kankakee County Fairgrounds, which is at the end of a dead-end road on the far side of the “metro” area. Apparently the address listed on the Park's website was incorrect.
So, after much ado that turned what should have been an hour and a half trip into a nearly three hour trip, we arrived at the campground and got set up. Ethan immediately joined the other kids and started playing, and the three adults went about setting up camp and keeping the twins out of trouble. (Poison ivy must like hot and dry conditions, because it was everywhere.)
I knew Colin and Veronica would like camping — they both love to be outside and get very upset when we have to come in. They like exploring, and love dirt and plants and sticks and stones. And I was right. The heat didn’t seem to bother them nearly as much as it bothered me, and they had fun exploring. Veronica was fascinated by the daddy long-legs (or “Daddy Legs” as she called them) and Colin seems to have fun wherever he is.
I was very worried about how the sleeping would go. The twins aren’t what you would call good sleepers — it’s rare even now that we get a night where they both sleep through — and when you’re in a tent the whole world knows when you’ve hit a rough spot. But that first night, they actually did surprisingly well. Both twins slept pretty much through, until Veronica woke up at 4-something in the morning and was delighted to realize we were all together:
“Col-y!” “Mommy!” “Daddy!” — announced in a voice that pretty much precluded any more sleep.
>> To be continued …
We have been trying to get a camping trip together with our neighbors for close to four years. Our plans were somewhat interrupted by my pregnancy and then the arrival of Colin and Veronica. So this year, we were determined to make it work, and we decided to join them on their annual Father’s Day camping trip to the Kankakee River State Park.
John thought he was going to be working that weekend, so my sister agreed to join us so I wouldn’t have to try to keep an eye on all three kids by myself. Fortunately, at the last minute John was able to wrap up his work and come along for the fun. (He may have regretted that later, but …)
We hadn’t been to Kankakee in years, so I made sure I printed out directions from Google maps before we left. We loaded up the van, loaded up the people, and away we went … to the Kankakee County Fairgrounds, which is at the end of a dead-end road on the far side of the “metro” area. Apparently the address listed on the Park's website was incorrect.
So, after much ado that turned what should have been an hour and a half trip into a nearly three hour trip, we arrived at the campground and got set up. Ethan immediately joined the other kids and started playing, and the three adults went about setting up camp and keeping the twins out of trouble. (Poison ivy must like hot and dry conditions, because it was everywhere.)
I knew Colin and Veronica would like camping — they both love to be outside and get very upset when we have to come in. They like exploring, and love dirt and plants and sticks and stones. And I was right. The heat didn’t seem to bother them nearly as much as it bothered me, and they had fun exploring. Veronica was fascinated by the daddy long-legs (or “Daddy Legs” as she called them) and Colin seems to have fun wherever he is.
I was very worried about how the sleeping would go. The twins aren’t what you would call good sleepers — it’s rare even now that we get a night where they both sleep through — and when you’re in a tent the whole world knows when you’ve hit a rough spot. But that first night, they actually did surprisingly well. Both twins slept pretty much through, until Veronica woke up at 4-something in the morning and was delighted to realize we were all together:
“Col-y!” “Mommy!” “Daddy!” — announced in a voice that pretty much precluded any more sleep.
>> To be continued …
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| Colin enjoying some fresh fruit in his new camp chair, courtesy of Aunt Deb. |
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| Roni in her new camp chair too. |
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