Why we camp

We've gone on 3 camping trips so far this summer and they've all been fun in their own unique ways. My neighbor recently asked me why we go through all of the trouble, especially since camping is so much work. And with two kids? Double the work. Double the stress.

Here's why:

We camp because it gets all of us outside - regardless of the weather. No excuses. We camp because if we stayed home, we'd be more likely to stay inside and probably go stir crazy. We camp because we have a pop-up trailer and a truck to tow the trailer. So, it follows that we must use said trailer and truck so it does not go to waste. We camp because it's an affordable vacation that we can do multiple times in one summer. Not a bad way to celebrate a more flexible schedule and nice weather either. Finally, we camp because there are some beautiful lucid moments out of all the challenging ones. Where the outcome of all our work is abundantly clear: a beautiful beach, a quiet moment on a lake, a fun moment around the campfire where one child is telling hilarious stories and the other is listening with rapture. Those moments. They make all the advance preparation and strategizing worth it.

I'm not saying we don't have other (many more) moments where we think to ourselves (or find ourselves whining out loud) why do we go through all of this trouble?  The first day and last day of each camping trip is always the hardest because of the set up, coupled with our exhaustion and the reaction of the children to the complete change of scenery. (Read: Cole actually screamed at the top of his lungs for about 10 minutes when we first arrived at our site in Rhode Island). Plus with the last three camping trips, Cole wasn't exactly excited about any of them (except of course with the first one, but that was ONLY because he knew he'd get to play with Juni the whole time). But our final upcoming camping trip (happening tomorrow) is actually a cause for genuine enthusiasm in our little boy. He's excited, and probably because he now knows what to expect of camping, and has started to actually enjoy the ocean beach. Not only that, but after sharing a bunk for three trips, we finally decided to give him his own little bunk in the form of the dinette (that transforms into a bed) next to our family bunk. We let him play on it on the last day of Rhode Island and that got him psyched that next time, it'll be his to sleep on.

Some pictures to illustrate why we camp:

Mongaup Pond (this place is just so magical)

With two kids, you can never quite get a perfect family photo

This little girl gets a huge kick out of her big bro.

Beach bums!

"I Yuv you Daddy."

We LOVE campfires

In the trailer, early morning.

Daddy about to get in on Cole's sweet photo - and MOON the camera. 

Don't mind the crazed look on my face, I was actually having a good time.

Juni and Cole inspect a fluttering dying moth in the Rec Hall during a rainstorm.

Moi? Reading? Definitely a rarity these days, but made possible by Bevin's nap.

Cole has fun at the shore

This kid had a blast!

Our enormous sunshade that is absolutely necessary!