Camping

Last weekend we went camping with the Manguso family!  We camped before we had kids, but this is the first time with our munchkins!  Amy and Chris have ventured out with kids before, so they were a big encouragement to us.... plus, they had tons of gear that we didn't know about until we started setting up!  Wow, they are expert campers!  We had a fun time, especially with the tips we learned from our friends!

Part of the campsite... the girls slept in the 2 man orange tent.  Tim, the boys and I slept in the blue tent and Amy, Chris and the babies slept in the gray/red tent!  

Everyone loved playing in the water....

The boys loved the mud - they couldn't get enough!

The babies napped in the tent - can you believe it?  I was amazed that they fell asleep.  

Amy brought box fans which not only circulated the air, but offered a great white noise source!  They were out like lights - which made for much better moods in the evening than we would have had without naps! (Note to self, always bring box fan!)

Swimming at the lake while the babies slept...

The next three pics make me think of "Let the wild rumpus start?" From Where the Wild Things Are!

So fun - check out Nate!  He is getting to be a great swimmer.  Eli is still working on going under - Madeline is under all the time.  Hopefully swimming lessons will help.... he's kind of been at the same point for a couple years (even after 2 years of lessons) - hope this is the year to break through!!!!

Exploring the creek behind our campsite...

Celebrating Lindsey's birthday!

So fun to get to share this special day!!

Hangin' out!

Lindsey learned to ride her bike without training wheels last fall!  She got a bigger bike for her birthday!

Madeline was inspired to try riding without hers.  My friend Amanda from high school put us on to this video to help us teach her how to ride.  It is a great reference and really helped us!  At this point, she had already done a lot of the balance work. 

She's doing it!

Madeline's two coaches!

Off on a hike!  Amy, Chris and Owen!

Sus and Daddy!

Chris, Owen and Nate...

Off we go, the boys keeping us on the trail by spotting the white dots.....

The point where we turn around and head back - good thing, the kids were starting to fade, all were getting hungry and a little whiney!

Off the trail to follow Nate!

The two girls having a ride!

Eli motoring on his bike with his boot!  Not slowing down too much! (By the way, it came off on Monday!!!! Yay - "God made new bone," he told his dad at dinner!)

Eli is now an expert bug and worm catcher!  This one, called, "Inchy," kept surfacing throughout the weekend!

A fun time!  We will definitely go again in the fall!!!!