Practice Camping

This summer we are heading to Bass Lake. Just like we do every year. But this year we are going back to our roots and instead of renting a house for a week we are going to be tent camping for 5 days. It's been awhile since we tent camped so my parents set up a Practice Camping trip. It was perfect because it was Kelly's 30th Birthday and Father's Day weekend. 

So after having to buy a tent, we packed up the gear and the kids in the car and headed to Lake Casitas. 

Yes that is how packed our car is. We drive a Scion XB with almost no trunk space. As you can tell the girls were excited. 

We got to the campsites and the kids were more than happy to be in the great outdoors.

Seriously these 3 could be triplets.

Since we were celebrating for the weekend my sister Mercy made us all these amazing coozies. They were super cute and kept our beers cold. 

I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive about this whole tent camping in the outdoors thing. I wasn't sure how the kids would do and the idea of having to make sure Louie is not running off constantly sounded exhausting to me.

But once we got the tent up and the fire going it was a ton of fun.

My brilliant sister Cari  brought bags for each kid with a list for a scavenger hunt. It really help keep the kids occupied while we set up camp.

The kids got dirty. Like really dirty, really fast. But it was totally awesome.

Phi has a little issue with the whole "no tablets" rule. She pouted on a rock for awhile, but once the watercolor journal came out she was fine.

There was s'mores and story telling and music late into the night.

 I was worried about bedtime. I thought when Louie realized that we were indeed going to sleep in a tent outside she would freak. The s'mores, dirt and sunshine wore her out so much she didn't even care.

Stay tuned for Day 2 where we are determined to find the lake and spend the afternoon at the waterpark.....