Car camping

This was a big weekend for us.  We had initially planned to camp with three other families, each with two kids under 5 years of age.  8 kids, 8 parents.  But we were informed that there was still snow on the ground, so we opted out, as did the other families.  We were trying to scramble last minute to find alternate places.  Most were first come first served, which was a little risky given we were coming from opposite sides of the state.  One family decided to stay closer to their home in the South, so we decided to stay local as well.
Dave worked a half day on Friday, and when he came home, we packed up and went to pick up the kids.  I had taken them both in since both had activities planned.  Peyton had a teddy bear picnic, which she called her “Pickmick”.  She brought Michael Jordan, and when we went to get her, she was finishing up an Oreo and some strawberries.  What a treat for them!  Miss Kristina told us Peyton had been telling everyone she was going camping.  The teachers were surprised to hear that she was telling the truth, since she simply chimed in when others said they were fishing, boating, and she offered camping.
Brandon had just ended quiet time, and had been a good helper (meaning he didn’t nap).  He was missing out on the June going away party, scheduled for all the friends who were leaving by the end of the month.  Alessandro being one of them.  He’s going to be around, so we’ll have to schedule playdates with him.  Both were very excited to be on the go, so we convinced Brandon to leave without drama.  His teacher, Miss Becky, was telling us how Brandon was informing her that he was only going for one day, at the end of his school day, and not sooner.  He had also mentioned his concern about the bears.
These generic cialis in canada antioxidants are very powerful and they have popularity as branded drugs. All about erectile dysfunction Erectile dysfunction is basically a disorder where cialis 5mg australia people face problems while erection. The meticulous lively constituent helps tadalafil professional drscoinc.com anyone at the most. This contrasts Swindon, where mean are least likely to price for levitra , along with other areas with low purchase rates such as Swansea, Manchester, Cambridge and Watford. We headed to our destination, and Brandon was very concerned about the wildlife.  He was worried about bears and later king cobras.  He said, “What if there are cobras?  Literally, you look outside the tent and there’s a king cobra.”  Dave and I looked at each other, “Literally?” we both wondered.  Where did he get that.  We got to our destination within an hour or so, and started to set up camp.  We were parked next to our site, so we unloaded our car.  I took the kids for a walk to get our bearings while Dave set up the tent.  There were other kids there, and most had already set up.  Since it was about 5pm by this time, we were already thinking about dinner.  The kids wanted a snack when we got back, since dinner wasn’t yet ready.  I started them off on their carrots.  Dave had started our fire, and warmed up dinner.  He had prepared ribs the night before (it was a one-man rib off).  We also had a loaf of bread and some cheese.  Within 30 minutes, we had dinner.  Soon after we inhaled dinner was the highlight of our trip – s’mores!  Can’t go camping without that!  It was getting colder, so we layered up with more clothes.  We had to watch the kids closely since they were infatuated with the fire, but both understood it was hot because they could feel the warmth.  Since there was uneven footing and with Peyton’s clumsiness, we were especially concerned for her.  She enjoyed sitting on our laps on the camp chairs.  It was starting to get dark, so we changed up for bed.  Peyton had some reservation about the tent and kept repeating, “I don’t wanna sleep in da tent,” while shaking her head.  When I got in there with her, she was a little better.  We started talking about Dland, and what we did the last time we were there.  She forgot about being scared and ended up falling asleep.  Brandon had taken a nap in the car on the way down, and was recharged.  By 830pm, he was up and Peyton was asleep.  We told him to stay in the tent with Peyton while we cleaned up and were going to hang out by the fire.  After 5 minutes, we felt badly for him, so we asked him to come out with us.  He sat next to my chair and we hung out until about 930pm.  Quiet time was 10pm.  But Peyton made a chirp around 945pm, so I went back to be with her in case she woke up and found herself alone.  I made it there before she woke up.  Brandon and Dave joined right about 10pm.  Brandon fell asleep after about 5 minutes, while Dave went back to make sure the fire went out okay.  When Dave came back around 1015pm, Peyton again woke up.  She was inconsolably crying, and making so much noise!  She was screaming, “I don’t wanna sleep in da tent! I wanna go to da car!”  I tried to comfort her, rocking her back and forth like a baby, but since it was dark, she was really scared.  I tried my best to keep her quiet, even having her lie on top of me.  I had her tears in my mouth!  Even in the dark, I could make out her terrified face, like when she was on Pirates or the roller coaster.  Only she was bawling.  It had always been the joke that I would have slept with her in the car if she made noise, so that’s what I decided to do.  I grabbed her, my sleeping bag, the keys and my lantern and headed off.  Only, we always said we’d sleep in the back, but since we still had gear back there, and the carseats were still in place, and it was dark, I headed for the front seat.  I closed the door and let her cry it out. She was still telling me, “I don’t wanna sleep in the tent” even though we were no longer there.  After she realized she was in the car, she calmed down and said, “I had fun in da tent.”  I couldn’t believe what she had just said.  I asked, “Do you want to go back” She quickly said, “No,” and said, “I wanna sleep in my car seat!”  Whaaa??  There was no way I was going to let her do that since I’d have to strap her down.  I convinced her to sit in the front seat with me.  But she doesn’t like sleeping with anyone, and she kept tossing, turning, and crying.  When she’d get comfortable, she was lying across my bladder or cutting off circulation in my arm.  I couldn’t get comfortable for anything, and I have to admit, I was a bit scared, too.  I closed my eyes, and tried not to stare out into the blackness.  I didn’t want to see anything.  I couldn’t hear anything because Peyton was already making too much noise.  She did have some major gas going on and I knew her tummy was upsetting her.  She kept farting, which complicated things, since all the windows were up in the car.  I think this was the worst night she’s EVER had.  Even when she was a baby, she did not fuss this much.  She wouldn’t even let me cover up with my sleeping bag, since she was in 4 layers, and I only in 2.  So I froze. She was always a good sleeper as long as she was left alone to toss and turn about.  But because I was stuck with her in my seat, it made for a challenge.  Since I had no concept of time, I didn’t know how long I’d been up.  I did manage to fall asleep because I woke to sunlight.  She woke up a bit too, but found a comfortable spot for the both of us, right at 7am.  Great, she was sound asleep.  Dave knocked on the window to get our cooler out so he could start breakfast for he and Brandon.  Peyton finally woke up at 8.  I told Dave that was the worst night of my life.  He said, “Yeah, I could hear everything!”  I was a little surprised, since I thought it was pretty soundproof with the windows all up.  Dave said it wasn’t as bad as another baby in another campsite who also cried through the night. I had not heard any of that.  So, I dropped Peyton off with Dave and walked in shame up to the restrooms.  I knew everyone would know I was the mother of “that kid who cried all night long.”  So Peyton was eating when I came back.  I finished breakfast, too.   The kids were playing in the campsite while we were packing up.  She started climbing up the hill and said, “Where are the boys (there were some in the campsite next to us)?”  Dave quickly looked at me, and he had this look for sheer terror in her request.  The boys were like 10 years old!  What does she want with the boys?   We are in for it if she is boy-crazy already!
After we brought her back down the small hill, we packed up and headed out for a hike.  We found a trail and went exploring.  Peyton was in the backpack, while Brandon and I walked behind.  We walked for about an hour before heading back.  Fortunately, both kids were enjoying the hike, and we didn’t hear any complaints.  After our adventure, we headed back to civilization and ate at a good Cioppino place by the coast.  We were all grubby and smelled like campfire, but it was delicious.  Brandon even had an burned area on his shirt from an ember that had landed on him.  Wow, that was kind of dangerous!  After that, we headed home with two sleeping kids.  Brandon woke up by the time we were home, while Peyton continued to sleep.  We knew she was tired, she had to be!  We unloaded the entire car, and she continued to sleep.  We all showered up, and I started the laundry.  Peyton finally woke up, and she, too, got her bath. Hopefully we can get Peyton used to sleeping in a tent, or next time, she is going to be left at home.  Will post pictures when I have the energy.  Right now, the kids are catching up on their “Saturday morning cartoons.”