Camping Labor Day Weekend

So, back ages ago, friends insisted we join them in the White Mountains of NH at their favorite campground. I like hiking and backpacking. And I like camping at our usual campground because it's close to home and has lots of amenities. But I don't love this in-between version of camping that has toilets but no running water but you're still right next to all of your camping neighbors. Primitive or glamping, none of this middle stuff. But we went, and it wasn't great. Temps in the 30's and 40's for the duration plus a combination of 7 kids who always needed something so you never got a chance to just sit....it wasn't terrible, but it certainly wasn't a vacation. The best part by far was when we got home and showered and put on fuzzy pj's. Also the early mornings in the tent snuggled with my family. But here are the pictures to make it look magical so that I am deluded into trying it again next year:

Packing and unpacking to pack and unpack again

The leaves are changing!

There was a great river behind our site which would be fun to play in during normal temperatures

Not that the cold stopped the kids from getting drenched

To make the joy complete, after we had everything unloaded and set up, it poured for 5 minutes so everything would be nice and drenched.

The machete from Guam got lots of use

No naps, freezing cold, constant on the go meant both kids were asleep within minutes and slept hard all night.

Slacker version of bacon for the mornings. 

Pancakes bright and early

Also, coffee

Hike #1

It was a challenge for the littlests (we had 3 four year olds), and there were multiple injuries, but everyone made it to the second waterfall and back alive

Guessing it's really impressive with the spring run-off

Mandatory river-side yoga practice (that needs practice....)

Good ol' Dollar Tree came through again with the camping toys. Bath toys in this case, the kids had a great time with them

Mermaid on her rock

I had on 2 pairs of pants, a shirt, a zippered hoodie, a down vest, a winter coat, and a winter hat and was still cold. The older kids put on their suits and went swimming.

Saturday morning was especially rough. Temps were in the 30's and no one was in a great mood. I bundled the kids into the car so we could crank up the heat and drove a few miles to town to get Dunkin

The caffeine and heat helped a little bit

More river (it really was pretty. and the cold kept the bugs away)

All out of order, but back to Fridays hike

The whole gang

On top of the second waterfall

Our fires were pretty good, as was my marshmallow roasting

Kate toasting glazed donuts (very yum)

Hike on Saturday. This was shorter but much scarier as getting the little kids off the rock scramble was a bit intense. But they handled it ok

Also making the trip bearable was our wonderful neighbors who had a hot dinner ready for us when we got back (and hosted it at their house so I didn't have to do dishes). I'm almost finished with the 6 loads of laundry somehow generated by this outing, and then I think we can put the 2017 camping season safely behind us. :)

August 2017

It's been a perfect summer. The kids have played hard, read a ton, been (mostly) screen-free, and structure has been minimal. School starts back tomorrow and I think we're ready for it, though I've done no actual preparation. Hudson is really going to miss his sister but I think she's pretty excited to get back with her friends. In the meantime, a look back at a few happenings last month:

The summer reading program provided us with lots of free ice cream and balls

Had to buy a few more Yumboxes; they're perfect for school lunch, and I figured I'd just make Hudson's up a day ahead as well so of course he needed his own box too.

Summer 'do

When your hair is in your face and you only have a stick instead of hair ties, you make do

It was a lovely, sunny day to check out Field Days

Henri had to examine every. single. item in the handcraft barn. 

The water-effect table was a huge favorite, they didn't want to leave (making Aunt Meg proud!)

Maple milkshakes for all!!! (and maple walnut pie bars for me.....)

We had absolutely gorgeous weather for our trip home

Getting in touch with nature

Crab apple picking

The harvest of a few minutes picking

The much-anticipated day finally dawned

I'd say he had a good day

Anna turned the apples into deliciousness

A much-requested gift, his catchers mask

This time the weather cooperated and we made it to Sunset Ledge

Had creemies just about every day

Blueberry picking at Pelky's

It had been a wet season, so the berries rotted/got wormy very fast, but I was able to make jam, cake, and pie with them

My knitting project for the trip was this hat. Intended it for myself, but it fit Henri better.

The pump is always a hit

Spent a day at the lake

He was shaking with cold but stayed in the water for 4 hours

Some of the onions at the Waitsfield Farmers' Market

They had goat meatballs which Henri adored so Aunt Abi bought her lunch

Gram T had her barn party and this guy showed up

Again, the weather couldn't have been better

Aunt Carol and Uncle Tim did a fantastic job with the decor and food

Hudson made everyone play all the games with him

Doppler experienced a little separation anxiety when his mom left him for 5 minutes, so he got some comforting

Gram's flowers looking festive

Papa's herb garden was the center of a lot of our time (Henri ate most of the stevia I think..), especially because he built the kids a teepee and hung 2 new tire swings for them. Totally spoiled.

Got home (and not happy to have left at all!) and couldn't face the ugliness of our house a minute longer so we pulled out the paint and made some masterpieces

First year both kids have actually played in the water at the spray park

How she spent most of her summer

We didn't do school every day, but we went through the whole first grade math book for review, and got about halfway through 2nd, enough to start carrying 10's and such. Hopefully she'll be where she needs to be. 

Went on a date; kayaking on our pond, then got some cheesecake to go. Decided we needed nuggets as well 

Last game of the regular season for Steve's team

They won, and remain #1 in the league! (That's Steve, 10, about to head for home). Now for the playoffs....

While home we also had a little celebration for Allie and Siena's coming baby but all the pictures are on the actual camera and will not budge onto my computer. Picture a downpour with a double rainbow right after everyone got inside (and was drenched) followed by gifts and a rather delectable spread (if I do say so myself) featuring honey (baklava!!!!). Also photos of all the sisters together for the first time in 2 years. Hopefully the photo card agrees to cooperate soon so I can share them....