Because we go camping so often in the summer we have it down to a science. We also have our little routine that everyone is happy with.
The packing actually starts with me. I tell the boys to bring up to my room 2 things - a change of clothes and a jacket. They can usually remember the jacket and one other item. I then go and fetch the rest. I have learned how to pack the boys overnight duffel for efficiency. On the bottom goes the least-likely-to-be-used items. This is usually their jeans. On top of the jeans go the clothes for the next day. Then pajamas and last but not least jackets on top. When I open the duffel I know that jackets come first before jammies and clothes come after jammies. No digging around in the dark with a flashlight trying to find what I am looking for. I just grab what is on top.
Once the van is packed, see post below, we head out to one of our favorite camping spots.
Immediately upon arriving the boys usually head to the creek to begin the first hour of rock throwing madness and Scott starts building a fire. We have learned that getting the fire down to coals and then cooking our dinner always takes longer than what we think. Scott prides himself on using only 1 match and no paper to start a fire.
We always have tinfoil dinners. The boys would absolutely revolt if they weren't on the menu. And who could blame them? Do you want to know the secret to a great tasting, perfectly cooked tinfoil dinner? Get fatty ground beef. Pre-cook your veggies. Add a healthy amount of seasoning. And use two layers of tinfoil with wet newspaper as insulation in between them. It works every time.
Oh and don't forget Red Vines. What would we do without our Red Vines?
While the fire is doing its magic to our meal, we work on getting the tent set up. The oldies get a nice cot with memory foam on top. The boys. Well they get a sleeping bag thrown on the floor. I haven't heard any complaints from them yet.
By the time dinner is over it is starting to get dark so other activities begin. The boys start clambering for their flashlights and glow-sticks. Within a few minutes they all look like the African ladies with large earrings, 10 bracelets and 15 necklaces hanging off their bodies. No worries about them getting lost. They glow for hours.
We also start to think about dessert. Now don't think that we are so set in our ways that we won't try anything new. That is not the case.
This year we have experimented with one of our favorite desserts - dump cake. Sounds delicious right? It is. We make this routinely when we have neighbors over for dessert. We decided to try it in a dutch oven and it tastes just as good.
Have I told you I have been without a camera for 3 months? True. My iphone is just not cutting it these days. Once our dump cake was finished it was dark, so I had Scott shine his flashlight on it.
I still haven't told you what dump cake actually is. So when I am done with this post I will put the recipe on my other blog.
As if this dessert isn't enough we then pull out the roasting sticks and start on our s'mores. And here is another little secret we learned this year. Do you want to try a new twist on s'mores? Replace your chocolate with one of these. You won't be disappointed.
Finally it is time for bed. Once the boys are in bed, the routine goes one of two ways.
1) They are asleep before their heads hit the pillow.
2) We end up yelling at them for an hour because they can't settle down.
The next morning, bright and early, we see signs of camp sleeping. Bags under the eyes, hair that is standing on end and dirty faces. That is what camping is all about.
And another thing we tried this year. Scones with honey butter. It can't get better than this.
The rest of the day goes as follows:
Hanging out by the fire.
Throwing as many rocks in the creek as possible.
And going for hikes around the campground.
That is our way of camping.
