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Camping

We decided that we better take the kids camping sometime this summer.  They love it so much and I have so many good memories camping with my family as a kid-I want them to have memories like that.  Also, we are good at going on vacations with each of our extended families but we don't always make the time to take vacations with just us.  So camping we went!  Our tent is too small for our family now (and there is one window that won't zip up) so we decided to borrow my dad's trailer and go somewhere closer to their house.  My brother had been camping in Mantua and even told us the best campsite to reserve, so that's where we decided to go.

We got there Monday afternoon around 2:00, got the trailer set up, and headed to the reservoir first.  My mom and dad drove up with the jet skis and they even snuck Gavin up to play as well.  The kids spent the entire afternoon at the reservoir-they didn't want to leave.  We had to finally drag them away at 7:00 so we could go back to camp and eat dinner.
Stockton, Grandpa, Molly
Grandma and Ivy
Molly and Gavin
My dad's trailer is nothing fancy, just the old one that we used to camp in when I was a kid.  The kids, however, thought it was pretty sweet.  They loved playing UNO and coloring at the table.  Justin and I slept in the big bed, and the other 4 doubled up in the other two pull-out beds.  It was a little harder getting Ivy to sleep so she had to lay with me until she fell asleep and then I'd move her to sleep with Molly.  Everyone slept great-and slept in!  Until almost 9:00 both mornings and that is not something they even do at home.
The campsite was amazing!  We were tucked in the back of the campground, we had a stream, a bridge, and a great spot to hang the hammock and relax.  We had pogo stick competitions (I think Stockton won with 400+ jumps, Molly was right there with him), bb gun shooting, and campfires at night.  We saw a baby raccoon and a family of rabbits.  I planned simple meals and prepped everything I could at home so I didn't have too much work and that was nice.  On our last night, the kids took turns telling "ghost stories" by flashlight.  Ivy really got going on a nice story but mostly her expressions were hilarious.
 
 The kids were ready to go right back to the reservoir on Tuesday morning when we woke up.  I wanted to go on a hike first so I researched and found one.  Stockton did not want to be there and hiked clear in the back the whole time.  He definitely lets us know when he doesn't want to do something.  We packed a lunch and pulled off the trail to eat.  There was a little stream and the kids were exploring around the area when Stockton started crying and itching.  We started to get a little nervous that they had all gotten into poison ivy or poison oak and decided to head back down to the truck.  Everyone ended up being okay so I'm not sure what kind of plant we actually came across.
Stockton wouldn't get any closer than this the whole hike up
 We went back to the reservoir for a couple of hours and kayaked, paddleboarded (my parents left their kid-sized one with us), jumped off the dock a whole bunch of times, and swam around.  We didn't stay as long this time, the kids were starting to get tired and were ready to head back to camp for dinner and a campfire.
Ivy is a little fish and would rather not be held in the water.
Stockton jumped off once but then was happy to paddle around on the kayak.
Ivy's contemplating jumping in
She needed a little help from Molly but she eventually did it.
They explored a little more and found a huge beaver dam before dinner.  We took the kids to the little market for ice cream.  We had a small fire and then it was off to bed.  We got up in the morning and packed up the trailer and headed home.  I usually sort of dread camping because of the work I know it's going to be, the lack of sleep, the dirty kids, etc...but this trip was so great and actually relaxing.  Maybe it was the ages of the kids, the trailer, or how we kept meals simple, I don't know but it was such a good time with my family and I'm so happy we made time for it this year.

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