We did not get eaten by bears...

When Trav told me he wanted to go camping a few weeks ago, I started worrying like crazy about bears and other hungry critters out there that would naturally want to eat us. When I realized he was serious about going, I started freaking out even more about wild animals attacking my children and never being seen alive again. We went online and tried preparing for every animal attack none to man, but that was terrifying as well!
After realizing bears were not the threat nor in this area, I calmed down enough to get us packed and ready to venture out into the wilderness for a weekend. I talked to my brother, who just moved from the area we were planning on staying in and he reassured me that we would be fine. I borrowed a few supplies from my Mother- in- law and Friday at 3:45- we were off!
We had a WoNDEFUL time too! Me included! See, I may actually surprise you here, but I can live without the following for a few days: my cell phone, couponing, bubble baths, make up, my vaccuum cleaner, my comfy bed, The Office re runs, the computer and Windex. The thing about me is- I can adjust to anything. I may not want to do something- but I can deal with it. I love and appriciate the wilderness and all it's beauty- but I'm not crazy about all the dirt, germs and creatures living in it. Even with that said, I can handle it and make it fun, which is exactly what I did!
I may have had dirt under my finger nails and in my neck crease- but I survived, had a great time, and look forward to our next camping trip!
(And you better belive I brought my Clorox wipes to the nasty toilet there and wiped things down!!)

It was great to watch Trav hike up in the mountain for fire wood with the kids trailing behind him. It was fun to sit by the fire and roast marshmallows while trying to wipe away the stickyness with just a baby wipe. It was wonderful to watch the girls catching dragonflies and Tristin playing in the dirt and building camp fires. It was relaxing, beautiful and nice to get away from normal life and do something different and challenging- and camping with kiddos is very much a challenge. Just packing for the event wore me out! Take everything you need for camping and times it by 6 and the van fills up pretty quickly! The kids did really well though and had a lot of fun. We had tin foil dinners & hot dogs for dinners and eggs, pancakes, sausage, fruit, yogurt & cereal for breakfasts. Lunch included Cup of noodles, PB & J sandwiches and lots of snacks.
It was nice to return home and take showers and wash 7 loads of laundry- but it was great to get out and hike and be in the wilderness for a few days too. I was delighted to only see: birds, ants, spiders, bees, beetles and mosquitos and grateful that the mean, mean bears stayed far, far away!