Day Camping



One recent, beautiful day, we decided to try our luck with camping by testing out all of the elements of camping- tent, nature, fire, eating, fun - without the one notriously more challenging elements- darkness and sleeping out in nature. In order to do this, we went Day Camping.

 Aunt Elise (of course, that Elsie- your Godmother, Julia) and Uncle Charlie were camping and did what we thought was all the hard work: tent-assembly, fire-making. We did what they thought was all the hard work: have kids, get kids dressed, bring kids to campsite.

And so, on the hills of the hosre of Lake Lavon, we all converged for a beautiful day of Day Camping!

Aidan, you were immediately fearful of the campfire- noting how you didn't want to go near it, because it could hurt you. But, then you were also immediately enamored with the tent, and decided that that  was the coolest place to be:

Julia, you too were weary of the campfire, and of course followed your bro into tent life, but note before you made yourself at home at the snack/picnic table!

As the day warmed up, so did you guys!

Uncle Charlie 'taught' you how to juggle oranges, Aidan. And Julia, you decied to venture out into nature.

We even were able to teach you both an important lesson about the campfire: there are safe fires, and ways to interact safely with fire. So...you both eventually warmed up to the fire!

Roasted marshmallows certainly helped a lot with that task.

Verdict: "You eat it, Daddy!"




So, campfire was good now. Roasted marshmallows weren't so much... But unroasted marshmallows made everything a lot more mellow.

Over the course of the afternoon, we went on adventures hiking through the park looking for bathrooms, playgrounds, cool views, and nature! Picking and smelling flowers, beeping walkie-talkies, dancing on table tops, and giving kisses were popular camp-site activities.



We also had fun poking ant piles and posing in the bluebonnet fields.

All in all, I think we succeeded in communing with nature. Day camping was a success! Next up... we'll have to try day + night camping...but with air conditioning: "glamping!"

The end!

The end!



Great Day at the Playground: "Hey Girls," "Like the Fox," Big Swings

On a beautiful day, I packed some snacks, got out the bike and chariot (which both of you are getting too big for!) and we rode around the neighborhood until we landed at the Hexter Elementary School playground.

We had a marvelous time, and the two of you explored and showed how much you've grown with every step and obstacle climbed.

Julia, you proved that you can climb in ANY type of shoe...

You swung on "big kid" swings:

You posed together:

...including Aidan's new pose "Like the Fox..."

...and, Aidan, you flirted a lot with some girls. At first you heard them talking and said "I'm going to go check those girls out!" But then you came back to me and told me that you were too shy to say hi. Eventually- like a few minutes later- you got over it and introduced yourself by yelling "Hey Girls! You want to play with me?"

They were super sweet and said "Yes!"

When they left, you told me "They're going to come over to my house later and my mommy will be SO happy!"

Well, the girls didn't come over, but Mommy was SUPER happy; happy to hear about your accomplishments, your funny stories, and to see the "like a fox" face!

It's the little things, you know?