During the first weekend in October the family went camping to our favorite fall campsite, Camp Joseph in Sharon VT. Last years trip is here. And this year did not disappoint either! We had our friends the Antunes family with us and it was fun to introduce them to camping. Except that Arty brought so, so much food...he must have thought our family was full of piggies. ;)
By now, Adam and I are feeling pretty confident in our camping abilities these days with the things we learned with the McNiven's last year and a week of youth Trek under our belts from this summer. We purchased a camp stove, made sure everyone had boots, plenty of socks, sweatshirts and jackets, and bought some real sleeping bags for the kids-those cute thinly insulated ones did not cut it last year. And of course, we packed everyone an extra quilt just in case. Our jean quilts were the ones everyone fought over. There is nothing warmer that a jean quilt. Thank you Katy for the one you made us a few Christmas's ago. I slept with it and it was toasty.
We had everything we needed. I know because I made the entire camping list and piled it all near the door. I even remembered the most important item-my camera, but when I arrived in VT I discovered I left it's battery charging at home. Boo whoo. I missed it so... all weekend. It was just so beautiful. I kept beating myself up every time I saw something pretty. So it is an Iphone camping trip. I'm sorry.
These photos are not order. I had to add them from my phone and Adam's and the ones Amanda sent me. I have spent too much time gathering them together to put them in order too. The first day we hiked. It was a great hike on the Appalachian trail. We wanted to see what the shelters looked like that hikers stay in when they are camping on the trail. We walked a bit out of the way before we realized we took the wrong trail when two trails intersected. Emma noticed right away, but the rest of us brushed it off. She was right and we ended hiking a few extra miles. It was our biggest family hike by far. We covered about 6 miles. I was amazed at how well the kids did. Adam carried Seth, but the other younger two, Gracie and Cayden, walked the whole way. Ellie and I held their hands to help them lengthen their stides a bit, but they were great hikers.
The second day we visited the Memorial and took a pickup ride to see the foundation sites. We listened to Conference over our devices and let the kids play in the campground and we cooked and ate and ate some more.
Sunday morning we packed it all up and once again turned on Conference to listen to on the way home. Sunday morning was just so beautiful. They was this gorgeous tree that was raining her yellow leaves down around us. I remember thinking as I walked out of the cabin that morning after not sleeping well for the past three night(next year that boy will stop waking up and screaming at night), that maybe we didn't have to leave just yet. Can you believe it? Not wanting a family camping trip to end? Impossible. But true. Even with all the work and inconvenience and and no sleep and work, it was a wonderful camping trip.
I'm not sure we will do it Conference weekend again though. I think we realized that we should make that weekend all about listening to the messages our church leaders have for us and not about what fun we can fit into our weekend "off" from regular church. We tried to listen to the speakers, but we it would be easier in more reverent atmosphere, like our home. When my kiddos all leave the house and it's just Adam and I, then I can have my relaxing fall/conference weekend trip back.
Here's a cabin. Another change for this year, us Marble's took two cabins. It was so nice not to be so crammed and the girls had a blast sleeping on their own with their door locked of course. Totally worth it.
The set up. My favorite part is that big black box. For trek we collected enough cooking utensils, mixing bowls, knives and cutting boards to just pack them away in this camping box and not raid my kitchen at camping time. His Dutch ovens fit in there and first aid kit and dish washing stuff. Love that.
