A Camping We Will Go . . .

We went camping! Finally after almost 8 years of marriage we went camping and had a fantastic time. We went with our ward and camped on a huge property that has ponds. I would consider it "prairie" camping, there was no need to clear a sight for our tent because there was no dirt, only grasses. I grew up camping and loving it, but always in the mountains and wooded areas. Here in our part of Texas you're hard pressed to find any mountains, but the area we camped at was just beautiful.

We drove out as soon as Jeremy came home from work and were able to enjoy the sunset along the way

It looked as if we might have been the last to arrive. There were a few tents ready for the night and the adults were busy with dinner by the fire, while children spent time fishing in the ponds and running through the tall flowers and grasses. Everyone smiled and laughed and as the night wore on we enjoyed smores and the campfire.

By the end of the night the few of us who were staying over took our seats around the flames and listened to the wild stories of President Griffin. He told of his childhood in northern Mississippi, living in an area cleared for farming but still wooded and having to hide from a panther that tried with all its might to get into their home when just he, his sister, and cousin were home during the day. It was like something from Little House on the Prairie, and Pres. Griffin is such a natural story teller, it was better than a ghost story and still sent me to bed with chills.

We borrowed a two man tent for the trip so Jeremy, Teensie, and I slept in it while CJ slept in a larger tent with his friend. There was no room for the pack n play (we're so spoiled normally) so I just put Liz on top of our sleeping bags with a blanket to go to bed and she was out in no time (it was 10pm by then as well, otherwise we would have had a fight on our hands for sure). When Jeremy and I went to bed she stayed asleep between us but I'm sure she knew I was there because she nuzzled right up to me in no time, so sweet. Until 2am when she woke up, realized she was with mom and dad and not in a crib and thought it was playtime. After about an hour of trying to get her back down Jeremy finally just took her home and said he'd be back to get us in the morning.

At 4am it started raining. No biggie, but the lightning is what make me uneasy, so I moved to CJ's tent and stayed there till 5am when we were awakened by more rain and a warning to pack up and leave before the ponds rose and covered the way out. All the sites were packed and headed out by 6am, CJ and I rode with one family while our things went with another. 

It was eventful and wonderful, and I look forward to going again this summer.