Bunker Bash

Last week, we had the wonderful blessing of going camping as a family. I've been camping (albeit over 15 years ago) and Ben's been camping, but before last week the most camping the kids had done was popping a tent in the backyard with the convenience our house within 50 feet. Well, this time we decided to give a shot and pull out the tent and borrow a second tent to make it happen.  To be fair, we camped within 15 miles of our house with an escape plan and a waterpark onsite for entertainment.  But it still counts, right?  We also had a family of the pop-up camper types come along and show us the "camping ropes".  It was nice to have the Loper family there with us.  They were nice company (and a convenient source of those things that were forgotten).  As mentioned in the previous post, our first day was Madelyn's birthday.  She was very excited about camping on her birthday.  I had wished that I had the camera prepped when she was riding her bike around the sites with her balloons trailing behind her.  It was a very cute sight.

The first afternoon we set up camp and went out to enjoy the waterpark for a couple of hours before coming back for sitting around the campfire.  Here is Madelyn opening her presents from the Loper's on the first night over roasting hotdogs, which were followed quickly by marshmallows.  We fell asleep with the sun that night.  Unfortunately for Ben and Mad, it was a chilly night.  Grey and I slept like logs.





The second day we woke up, made breakfast, let the kids ride their bikes for awhile, ate lunch, and then took full advantage of before-mentioned waterpark!  After five hours and lots of slathering with the sun block, we had done about 6 dozen water slides, 2 hours in the wave pool, 5 rounds of the lazy river...  that is except Greyson who spent the WHOLE 5 hours in the sand box area.  Man, for a kid that doesn't like to get dirty, he was head-to-feet filthy by the time we left!

Greyson is still figuring out how to pick up his feet when he walks.... he kept scraping his toe on the concrete and no bandaid would stay on. 


Making rivers and sandcastles.


basking in the sun with the oldest Loper.


playing in the sand with the youngest Loper.


Mama Loper and the youngest in the wave pool


Mad and middle Loper playing in the wave pool.


Mad taking a rest from the wave pool.



Exhausted and hungry, we biked ourselves back to our campsites and were fed an amazing camp meal (grilled chicken thighs, alfredo noodles, grilled broccoli, fresh fuit salad - yum!) by Mama Loper!  It was so good and I felt like was completely (not) roughing it.  Then while I stayed to help clean up, Ben went to get our fire ready for our campfire circle.  So fun to circle a fire and tell stories and talk.  Thank you, Lord, for good friends and your nature that shows us your presence.








Waking up in the morning, to the musical animal sounds is so much fun, especially when there is a particular sound that you can't figure out.  On the second morning, there was an animal that was SO loud and sounded vaguely like a duck quacking but decidedly was not.  I was joking with Greyson about it and then heard Madelyn bust out laughing about it in the next tent (with Ben).  It was definitely a moment that I will remember for a long time.  I loved the ease of the mornings though.  So peaceful and no-rush.  Such a blessing.


and yes, of course, Blue Bear had a great time too.


Nature all around beckoning us to join in....