6th Annual Memorial Day Camping Trip

Can't believe we've been doing this for as long as we have!  It just gets better and better each year we go.  Each year, we are more prepared with new gadgets and camping equipment.  And each year our boys are at a different stage, there are new hazards, and we have to be more vigilant watching the two boys.

Memorable moments:
*  One morning, Decker asked where all the cherries were from the night before?  He thought a giraffe had come and eaten them. ;)
*  We played a game around the campfire:  I'm going on a Lion Hunt...through tall grass, climbing trees, looking through binoculars,  Decker loved this.   Cody even joined into the fun of doing the actions.
*  Eating s'mores...Decker liked them without the marshmallows and graham crackers.  :)
*  We tried a new recipe with marshmallows...dipped in Sweet Condensed Milk, rolled in coconut and then toasted over the campfire.  Yummers!
*  We had shishkabobs--chicken with veggies--mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes...Cody liked the mushrooms!
*  We tried the eggs cooked in a ziplock bag in boiling water. The cheesy/bacon eggs were fantastic and a hit with everyone and what an easy clean up!
*  On Friday evening we left our house around 8:00, so we were setting up in the dark again...nothing new there...and then eating at 10:00...instead of putting our traditional foil dinner on the coals and eating at 10:30, we decided to go with Mac n Cheese and hot dogs and saved the foil dinners for the next night.
*  Grandma came out on Saturday afternoon for a well cooked hot dog and cuddle time with the boys.  We then took her to the airport...she's going to visit Grandma June in CA for a week.
*  Decker has learned to pedal his bike and he's strong enough to have Cody ride on the back as well.  Though sometimes he would complain that Cody's 22 lbs were too much.  They had fun on the bike.  Cody would push Decker sometimes too.  It was great for Decker to have space to ride on a nice smooth trail and get some real practice in his riding.   There were a ton of kids riding around, and Decker had rules...he could only go so far with his bike.  He could not ride to the bridge or the little river beach by himself.  So to help satisfy his craving to explore and ride the distance, I would ride with him on my scooter as he rode his bike.    
On the other side of the park a girl asked him if he wanted to race...he didn't want to go the way she was heading so he said, "no, that's okay, I'm riding with my mom."  I was secretly glowing when I heard him say this.  :)
*  We went and played on the Big Toy.  Cody loved the twirly slide and Decker wanted to go down the Fireman pole.  It's so nice to just let them play.
*  We brought our scooters and I would put Decker on it in front of me while I would do all the work.  It was great until one time I didn't have the handles locked into place and it slipped down causing me to drag my flip flop covered feet and leg over the gravel till we came to a GRINDING halt....yes, gravel in the skin, skin and toenail left on the asphalt...Yes, what did my parents teach me?  to always ride with shoes on?  I'll remember and be more cautious next time....Decker got scraped up as well...but you put a band aid on him and he's hunky dory.  Me...I was nauseous for a bit and just sat there till I got my bearings back.
*  Decker has officially entered the "WHY" stage.  Mike and I are getting of tired of answering "why" to 20 questions in a row!  "Because I said so", "Why do you think?" and "I don't know" are becoming more common answers...

Good morning!  Ready to get out of the camper and go play.

Eating their yogurt and using their little cup holders in their chairs.

Dad riding with little Cody on one of the scooters...he loved this...We took lots of rides over to the bathrooms....since it was quicker than the walk...

Decker got a little nervous on the bridge with it swaying too much...had to ground himself...

I love the pattern of light in this foto...

Cody using his musical ability with this little piano.  He is a little singer.  His favorite songs to sing are Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam.  I love singing with him.  I tried to video record his sweet voice and after singing TTLStar twice, realized I didn't hit the record button!  Dagnabit!  Oh well, he loves to sing, so I will get it later. ;)

Cody was so proud of himself walking on this narrow little cement wall...

Reaching for the pole...

We even occasionaly had enough wind to get our Garage Sale/Toy Story kite up in the air.  Buzz was really flying!

We tried to keep their blankets inside the camper trailer, but there were times that they snuck them out.  here's Cody and his "bebe".  Our little Linus...

Fixing breakfast in the morning.  Mike is holding the ziplock egg in his tongs.

Eating a yummy breakfast made by "Chef Daddy" and "Chef Decker".

Cody passed out in Daddy's arms...love these sweet moments..how his little finger is just hanging on to his lip... :)

Then there were times that Decker would say, "I want you" and he'd want his "Green"  and Cody would want his "Bebe".  So I'd go sit in the camper with them and they could snuggle into their blankets and get some snuggle time with mommy.  This is what we're doing here...

Cody found this puddle of water...of course...he's like a magnet to them...anyways, in the cement are some little animal hand prints...raccoons or birds, he'd found them and was trying to fit his little hand in them...so cute!

Decker, our little sweet hoodlum.  ;)

He's such a big boy, riding his bike...

Cody wanted to try...can't quite coordinate the movement though.

Such a fun weekend...a little tense in making sure both boys stayed out of trouble, but they loved camping.  We started talking aboug going camping 5 days prior to our first day and each day we would subtract a day, and Decker would keep count.  He "loves going camping!"  And we never went home the whole time we were there.  That's good for us...we usually have to make a trip home to pick up something or other...we just made do with what we had!  Yay!  So fun!  Decker and Daddy are looking forward to going camping again in two weeks...Father and Son ward campout!  So cool!