This weekend we went camping at
our favorite campground, Cunningham Falls State Park, MD. We almost didn't go because of the threat of severe thunderstorms on Friday. I was reluctant to cancel because it is our favorite campground, we had reserved our favorite camp site, and it can be hard to get a reservation there on the weekends. After listening to several weather reports, we decided to go since the chance of storms kept decreasing.
The weather was great Friday. It only sprinkled very briefly while our steaks and asparagus were on the grill.
Lydia loved cleaning the picnic table. So much so that she would put gravel on it just so she could sweep it off. She also spent a good amount of time cleaning the cooler. She also cleaned a couple of the toys before we left on Sunday. I have to find a way to make this work for me at home.
On Saturday, it started really raining while Chris was cooking dinner (hamburgers and corn on the grill). Our camp site was surrounded by large trees that blocked most of the rain. The kids and I sat under the van's lift gate, while Chris stood under it, to eat dinner. Despite their faces, they liked dinner and seemed to like sitting there. The rain didn't bother them at all. We were able to roast marshmallows in the rain. Chris built a great fire despite the rain (and the trees blocked a lot of the rain). The kids went to bed at 8:30 and Chris and I went to bed early also.
At one point during the night, Wesley woke up and wanted some water. Lydia had one of her arms on his air mattress almost in under him. I repositioned her back to her own bed. When Wesley woke up at 6:00 this morning, Lydia was had her head on his bed. He wanted me to take a picture of her.
Those air mattresses are great. That is the reason why I can still go camping at 31 weeks of pregnancy.
The kids love camping. They always say their favorite part is roasting marshmallows; even though, the really just like eating them without roasting them. Another highlight is watching the cooler "go potty." Yes, bathroom humor rules in our family.
Wesley found a little worm this morning and enjoyed carrying him before letting him go. We saw lots of bugs this weekend. At least one spider made home in our dirty clothes. Chris took him outside and let him go.
We gave Wesley some freedom on his bike. We let him ride his bike all the way around the camp loop alone a couple of times this morning at 7 AM. Mostly we just let him ride a third of the loop by himself. Our campsite was right beside of the bathhouse road so he could ride on that and then circle back on part of the loop.
Lydia is getting better at riding her balance bike. Thanks to some bribes, she is more willing to ride it. She earned a lollipop by practicing riding down the little hill toward the bathhouse this morning.
We went to the aviary after packing up our camping stuff. We saw this red-tailed hawk who only weighs three pounds.
The kids and Chris posed in front of the black vulture. Lydia was a little afraid of him because he kept coming right up to where she was standing. Black vultures are more aggressive than turkey vultures and this one did seem aggressive .
Despite the rain on Saturday night, we had a really good time camping. It is fun to get away and just hang out and spend time as a family in the great outdoors. I read more books to Lydia than I usually do at home. Wesley and I played ball with the velcro paddles. We also hiked and played at the lake (blog posts coming soon). It is nice to just focus on the kids and having fun. I came home to a messy house. After taking a nap (with ear plugs so I couldn't hear the kids), I cleaned the bathrooms and did laundry.
Lydia was thrilled to get a pink lifejacket. I did keep a close eye on her and sometimes I even held on to her lifejacket. I wouldn't have been surprised if she had fallen or jumped in the lake.
Here is a video of Wesley trying to pedal the boat by himself.
Chris helped the kids build a sandcastle.
The kids also swam in the lake. Wesley liked to practiced swimming on his back while holding the beach ball.
After two hours of playing, we got the kids ice cream and then let them play a little longer. They didn't want to leave the lake but it was clear that they were very tired. They both fell asleep in the car while Chris was buying more firewood. Wesley said his favorite parts of the camping trip were roasting marshmallows and the lake.
We saw this millipede on our hike.
Here is a family picture in front of the falls. This is me with the same clothes I wore the day before, flat hair, and no makeup.
On the way back, we took the more strenuous trail. Guess what! Lydia walked the entire way and never asked to be carried! Chris' conclusion is that she just likes a challenge. (Hum, is that why she gives us such a hard time about other things?)
The kids posed on a big rock near the end of our hike. We will just have to keep trying to get Lydia to hike and walk with us. Maybe we should stick with the harder trails.
On Saturday, it started really raining while Chris was cooking dinner (hamburgers and corn on the grill). Our camp site was surrounded by large trees that blocked most of the rain. The kids and I sat under the van's lift gate, while Chris stood under it, to eat dinner. Despite their faces, they liked dinner and seemed to like sitting there. The rain didn't bother them at all. We were able to roast marshmallows in the rain. Chris built a great fire despite the rain (and the trees blocked a lot of the rain). The kids went to bed at 8:30 and Chris and I went to bed early also. 
At one point during the night, Wesley woke up and wanted some water. Lydia had one of her arms on his air mattress almost in under him. I repositioned her back to her own bed. When Wesley woke up at 6:00 this morning, Lydia was had her head on his bed. He wanted me to take a picture of her. 
Those air mattresses are great. That is the reason why I can still go camping at 31 weeks of pregnancy. 
Wesley found a little worm this morning and enjoyed carrying him before letting him go. We saw lots of bugs this weekend. At least one spider made home in our dirty clothes. Chris took him outside and let him go. 
We gave Wesley some freedom on his bike. We let him ride his bike all the way around the camp loop alone a couple of times this morning at 7 AM. Mostly we just let him ride a third of the loop by himself. Our campsite was right beside of the bathhouse road so he could ride on that and then circle back on part of the loop. 
We went to the aviary after packing up our camping stuff. We saw this red-tailed hawk who only weighs three pounds. 
The kids and Chris posed in front of the black vulture. Lydia was a little afraid of him because he kept coming right up to where she was standing. Black vultures are more aggressive than turkey vultures and this one did seem aggressive . 
Despite the rain on Saturday night, we had a really good time camping. It is fun to get away and just hang out and spend time as a family in the great outdoors. I read more books to Lydia than I usually do at home. Wesley and I played ball with the velcro paddles. We also hiked and played at the lake (blog posts coming soon). It is nice to just focus on the kids and having fun. I came home to a messy house. After taking a nap (with ear plugs so I couldn't hear the kids), I cleaned the bathrooms and did laundry. 
Maybe she will be a dentist one day. 
She even let Wesley have a turn while she inspected the extra large teeth. 
The boys pulled the cord to launch the rockets. 
And up they went. Daniel's rocket went the highest. We were all proud of Uncle Stephen, I mean Daniel. 
Wesley was really into hanging out with Jacob and watching all the rockets. It was pretty cool and I had a good time also. 
Lydia watched the rockets but mainly she begged for dinner. 
Here is a video of Daniel's rocket. Just turn your head sideways. (No, I wasn't the one who did video.)
The kids had fun playing in the waves.
Wesley and Lydia said, "We are pigs and we are rolling around in the mud." They liked playing in the warm wet sand and digging a big hole.
When we were leaving the state park, we saw this alligator. Very cool.
The kids got balloon animals at dinner.
Chris and I split this steam pot with the kids. They love crab legs and shrimp. If we go back to Joe's Crab Shack we will get the steam pot again. Of course, the youngest member of our party refused to wear a bib.
Walking around Broadway at the Beach was fun. The kids fed the fish and ducks.
As soon as the fish see people standing there, they come swimming over with open mouths.
We let the kids ride a couple of rides before leaving.
We had a great day!