Backyard Camping - September 25th, 2010

We had planned to take the kids on their first camping trip this year. Bought a nice tent that would fit all of us, a new sleeping bag for Ethan, bought hot dogs and everything needed to make S'mores, and then we received a torrential downpour the week of our big trip. Mud + 4 month old + 2 year old = MESS. We had been getting Ethan all ready for the trip, talking to him all about sleeping outside in the tent and didn't want to totally disappoint him, so we just decided to pitch the tent in the backyard and do a campout at home. He thought it was just the neatest thing. He spent the entire day in and out of the tent, bringing down ALL of his blankets, animals, books and pillows to make himself right at home. We still grilled up some hot dogs and I even toasted up some marshmallows on the gas stove to make S'mores. It was too cold for Becca to camp out, so I planned to stay in the house with her while Ethan camped out with Daddy. All was going well until some neighbors decided to set off some fireworks and then Mommy needed to come out and stay in the tent too... so, Becca was moved to the bassinette in the basement and the monitor came out into the tent and Mommy, Daddy & Ethan spent the majority of the night in the tent (I snuck back inside once he finally fel asleep). The tent stayed up for the next few weeks, still providing lots of fun for Ethan on the weekends, his own little clubhouse where he could read his books, play with his trains, even Skype with Mima & Papa from his tent... I can't wait to take him camping for real this summer/fall.