For the past 2 years I have taken our kids camping by myself while Matt worked.  Finally after being married for 9.5 years and having 2 kids, Matt joined us on a camping trip!

"We are a happy family"

Mason loved playing with our friend's dog

Kids enjoying nature

Talking to friends around the camp fire

5 families that all went camping together

Thanks to our friends who planned this trip and invited us to tag-a-long.

The first crazy camper is me, the mom. Who in their right mind would take a 7 year old and a 22 month old camping without their spouse? Through one of my homeschool groups they set up a camping trip and Kalani LOVES to go camping with friends. I took the kids last year with Mason as an 11 month old and figured that this year would be a little easier since he was older.

The other crazy campers enjoying nature

The weather didn’t cooperate completely since it was wet most of our second day there and then was really cold trying to pack up on the third day. Nature is also a little loud at times. Like at 3 am when a coyote and cubs decide to make their presence known near our camp site. Or the owl that was above our tent. And then there are the man-made noises like trains that want to blow their horn in the middle of the night.

Most of the group going on a "hike"

But, I know that “I Can Do Hard Things” (sister’s favorite saying). Like going on a hike…we only walked a mile and then turned around, but I walked that mile holding Mason at 30 pounds for the majority of the hike. On the way back we decided to take the road since we wouldn’t have to worry about rocks and going up and down hills. A friend brought her wagon since she has 3 small children and Mason got to ride in the wagon while I pulled it. Mason started taking off his hat, then shoes and socks and throwing them out the wagon. I guess he was done riding in the wagon and stood up while I was pulling. I looked back just in time to see him stand and then fall backwards and hit his head on the asphalt! Blood appeared, water was poured, pressured applied and baby was crying. I wasn’t completely sure what I should do since it looked like he needed stitches, but I also needed to take care of Kalani and I didn’t know where the hospital was since we were over 2 hours away from home.

2 cuts

Luckily I have great friends who took care of Kalani for me, a dad ran back to camp to get his car so I could get Mason to the hospital quicker and then all the kids were looking for my keys that I couldn’t find (they were under my pillow). I asked the park ranger where the nearest hospital was and it was only 2 miles away. I was doing a great job of staying in control and not freaking out.

I got into the ER quickly and Mason was acting like himself, playing in the water at the sink, giving the nurse high 5’s, saying hi to people, etc. There was a lot of waiting around…2 hours later Mason leaves the hospital asleep (it was his nap time) with 2 staples in his head.

2 staples

I asked to cover the staples since there was still blood and I knew we were going back to camp where Mason would be playing in the dirt. I really didn’t want to deal with an infection on top of everything else…AND with Matt in California and not being able to talk to him because of poor reception, I felt totally on my own.

100% boy

The staples aren’t keeping Mason down. He only knows they are there when I change his diaper since he doesn’t lay down very often. But in 10-14 days he gets them removed. I feel like a real mom now after going to the ER with one of my children. I think that Mason is going to change me and how I parent! And I am crazy enough to take our kids camping again, even by myself if Matt can’t be with us.

A few homeschool families wanted to go camping for 3 days/2 nights.  I don’t remember saying that I would go, but some how my name ended up on the list saying that I was attending.  So I thought, “Why not, Kalani will have fun and we will make some memories.”   When I told people I was going camping at Lake Livingston I would  say, “I know I am crazy, you don’t need to tell me.”  Yes, I took an almost 11 month old and a 6 year old camping BY MYSELF…Matt had to work.

Kalani LOVED camping.  She talked about it for 2-3 weeks straight.  And whenever she saw the other moms that would be also going to camp she would show/tell them of her excitement.  We took a walk to the lake to figure out where to go fishing.

Kalani tried out fishing…but she pulled out the hook after 2-3 minutes and would try to cast the line again, but it would just get tangled.  Fishing just isn’t her “sport.”

Mason also enjoyed camping.  He LOVED his sister’s camp chair, which didn’t make Kalani very happy.  He LOVED being with the kids and seeing the dogs the other families brought.  He also went on a swing and LOVED that…pure joy!

The best part of camping…sitting around the camp fire and singing, playing games and telling stories.  Almost all of the kids that went camping are also in a homeschool choir.  Here the girls are singing and doing the motions for “Chapel of Love.”

This life is all about making memories good or bad, so I will probably do this again…camping with the kids while Matt is at work.  You don’t need to tell me that I am crazy…I already know that!  But next time I will be sure to bring an air mattress and hopefully Mason will be walking!