We'll be Comin' Around the Mountain When We Come...

We had a ward campout last weekend. The weather decided to change for the day so when we got there in the evening it was already seriously cold. Luckily we had come prepared. We had a comforter to put over our sleeping bags and then each of the big boys had those mummy bags that work to like -15 degrees. We had a bag all set up for Jo Jo, but put him to bed with us and kept him there because it got down to 30 degrees! It felt like we were camping in March. I slept with B's big sweatshirt on over my long sleeved shirt, pj pants, and socks. I'm usually a hot sleeper, but not so much that night. Most of the night we had our blanket up over our heads and I even had the hood on a few times. I have to pee a lot at night (sorry for too much info.) and so I kept waking up and having to go behind a tree. Yeah, they told us there was an outhouse there-not kidding at all, it was at least a quarter of a mile to half mile up the road. Most people drove up there, but I never went in it once. Anyway, then there were the coyotes. Twice this huge pack decided to start howling and barking for a few minutes each time. They sounded really close. Then there was also the little boy next to our tent who talks in his sleep and woke up once crying. His mom was like, "Oh you could hear him?" Um, yeah, tents are like sleeping in paper and you're right next to us and we're in the mountains which seems to make everything louder. Needless to say, I got about 3 hours of negative sleep. B said that's why you have to camp for more than one night because the 2nd night you're so tired from no sleep the first night that you pass out. I liked all the rest of the camping part, though.
Sat. morning we were up early due to the fact that Bubba was making noise putting his winter jacket on to wear in his sleeping bag. The other 2 went to sleep with long sleeves and their sweatshirts, but Bubba just wore his short sleeved pj shirt. Plus, I'm a vampire and as soon as day breaks I'm awake unless I have dark curtains and my mask on. After breakfast they had a tug of war-actually several-between different groups-like women vs. men, kids vs. moms, etc. We did a bunch actually. The kids won most of them. It was pretty cute. Then they did a scavenger hunt for the kids. They had to find a rock, bug, leaf, etc. Then they had a fire starting contest for the older kids. The big boys group won 2nd. It had to burn high enough to burn through the fishing line. Then they did a lot of BB gun shooting. It was supposed to be a contest, but everyone was just shooting at once. Most people packed up after that. We were the 3rd to last to leave since we weren't in any hurry.
Next, we drove about an hour back towards home to a beautiful hiking trail the boys had gone on last year I think it was. There was a beautiful waterfall that Peanut kept calling "Spwash Mountain." Jo Jo did really well and only had to be carried a couple of times. There were hundreds, possibly thousands, of little tiny frogs all along the trail. We probably caught at least 20 or so. We would each get one and then a bigger one and let the first go, or one would escape and we'd get another. They were like ants. We were really trying not to step on any. Peanut really thought he was bringing his home.
Then, we went fishing at a lake they had gone to last year. It was around the other side of the mountain from where we had hiked. It was hot by then, but then we sat in the shade and it would get breezy. The boys, especially JP, were so depressed that they didn't catch anything. Maybe next time. We drove home around 7pm because they really didn't want to leave until they caught something. But we hadn't eaten anything but jerky, chips and peanuts for lunch, not to mention all the soda, so we needed real food in a bad way. We stopped at a little place on the highway that leads home from where my brother-in-law grew up. It's a teeny tiny town and I thought it would be really funny if we saw his parents. Well, who should walk in but his dad picking up take-out. We got home late, but everyone was covered in sand from the little beach where we camped, so I made them shower first. It was a night of wonderful sleep after a crappy night in a tent freezing. All in all, a very fun first camping time for Jo Jo.

Bubba started football practice this week. He wore his helmet last night and tonight and came home sweaty. Tomorrow night it's supposed to be 101. Poor guy. They're 2 hour practices too. And their helmets are seriously impossible to get on or off, but especially off. I heard one mom say to her son that he might be wearing his for the rest of his life so to get used to it. They'll start with full pads tomorrow night. Their first game will be on the 29th. The fair is here so we're going this Sat. since he has games every Sat. after that. I'll post fun fair pictures afterwards.


My crazy insane husband not holding on while balancing on a ginormous rock next to "Spwash Mountain"

Hiking on the nature trail

JP at the campground

Bubba the ham on the nature trail

Not a very good picture of one of our frogs

Sitting in dad's truck while packing to leave camp

He doesn't like getting stuff on his hands, however, he does like sticks

My very favorite picture of the nature trail

Crashed on the way home

This one was from the day before we left. He loves cookies n' cream pop tarts and knows he's not supposed to eat them in the living room, so he goes in and lays on the couch and does it anyway. He's lucky he's so cute.