First Annual Marler Family Camping Trip

After our camping trip at the beginning of summer the kids asked if we could go again before school started. I said yes, Matthew said yes, and even some friends of ours said yes, but it still took me a while to actually make the reservations for the campsite. Finding one with only three-weeks notice turned out to be tricky, but I found something and went with it. 

I don't think we'll ever go back to that campsite which sits directly off of a busy Highway, but it actually turned out to be a perfectly lovely trip. We just had to cut out a night early because every semi that passed by at 3am sounded like a rocket ship blasting into space hindering Matthew and I from sleeping for the better part of the night. The kids didn't want to leave earlier than they absolutely had to but we promised to take them swimming on Saturday to make up for it. 

If you don't count the semis, the campsite was pretty great. Our site backed up to a little kid-friendly forest, complete with baby stream, in which they could play. A short walk away we found a safe part of the mouth of Detroit Lake to throw rocks, build rock creations, and in general, just be in the water for HOURS. Sadly I didn't bring my camera to watch wonderful daddies spending blissful moments with their adoring children. Nor did I capture my babes spending beautiful hours doing what children are meant to do, explore, get wet and dirty, and make up silly new games with each other. Those will just have to be kept in my heart.

But I DID take a picture of Matthew's EPIC no-match fire. He was able to take advantage of the coals from the previous night's fire, and extract the last remnants of heat they had to offer to reignite a fire of pure awesomeness. Seriously, so amazing. The skills of this man. Wow. They are on par with his amazing ability to catch ANYTHING I throw at him.

I also captured some lazy moments we enjoyed. Like Matthew and Boy Howdy playing games on his phone and Cheeks and her friend G spending SO much time doing only they know what in G's tent.

And I was able to capture the enthusiasm these babes had for getting dirty and playing in the fire. Next year I am reserving a spot far away from a highway, months instead of weeks in advance. Next year, we will camp for more than one night. And next year we will bring cooler food to eat. But this camping trip was pretty awesome and joyful too.