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… for camping!!! Camping is our getaway, it’s our escape, we use our mobile lake home … our 1987 pop-up camper … and go to several different locations from spring to fall. This trip was one of four planned for this summer … we’re thrilled. I just need a few hours on a Friday to pull together the bedding, our clothes and get our food in coolers and we’re hooked up and off! This weekend was spent at Illinois Beach State Park. It wasn’t as nice as some of our more favored parks, and we hit the most rain we’ve ever endured on a camping trip in many years … but it was relaxing. The rain forced us to lay low for the afternoon, napping, reading, playing Apples to Apples. It was nice to be nice and dry in our dowdy old camper … watching the boys’ listen to their books-on-playaway, Kiana succumbed to a nap, and Ken snored next to me while I read a book. Pure luxury. I struggle to find time to read books – though I have three going right now … good grief … I’m beginning to wonder if I’m becoming ADD in my middle age. Anyway, we enjoyed time with my parents and sister and her family. It’s nice to be on the other side of things – my kids older – my siblings just beginning their families. Camping is a challenge with a baby … I remember doing it with Kiana … I remember it being a lot of work and not relaxing at all – we had the boys in a separate tent because they wouldn’t fit in ours with her pack & play. Funny. Good memories. Why do those memories feel so long ago? She’s only 3!
Anyway … of course … I had to capture the weekend visually.
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Kiana was in heaven with the babies … and … when cousin Will was cooperative with her whims.
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Aidan was the goof, never too serious, priding himself in being able to make Will giggle uncontrollably.
Kiana … my little forest fairy. So happy in the outdoors. This was taken before the mosquitoes thoroughly enjoyed feasting on her!
And getting a picture of my eldest … only if it’s very very cool.
Looking forward to a whole season of this … it’s one of the best things about summer!! Even with rain and colder temps than anticipated!
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Alysa - SO fun, Julie. So happy that you get to experience these memory making experiences. We grew up with a pop-up-camper and hands-down, some of my very favorite memories growing up … your kids will have the same!
And what’s a books-on-playaway? is that a special machine or just your fancy way of saying books on tape/cd? curious. maddie is way into books on cd.
Julie - The playaways are from our library, they are like a book on MP3, each book is it’s own little MP3-like device and about the same size. You just have to have your own earphones for listening. They’re GREAT and they have lots of classics. Our library also offers digital downloads for borrowing so you can listen to it on your own digital device! I just adore the library!!