Camping...Nature's Way of Feeding Mosquitos

We went camping last weekend with the cub scouts. We had originally planned to leave Friday after school, but the storms kind of changed our mind. We decided that if our yard was a lake, then the camp grounds probably weren't much better.

Saturday, however, was beautiful. We camped at Little Bennett Regional Park, and our spot just happened to be directly across from the showers and bathrooms. SCORE! None of that walking 1/2 a mile in the pitch black with your little flashlight that only gives you a tiny clue where you are going to be 3 feet from now.

On the none-scoring side, we were right next to a family that apparently lives in their own little world. They locked/unlocked their car every *BEEP!* single *BEEP!* time *BEEP!* they went to it to get something. And they got a lot of somethings. Often. Their car was 30 feet from their tent, 20 feet from the table and chairs they set up, and they friggin' locked it, during the day, when they were sitting right next to it. They did it at 6 am, they did it at 11 pm.

Is it just *my* car that locks on the first click, and only beeps if you click it again? That "just checking" click. The one that is TOTALLY UNNECESSARY 99% of the time! Are there actually cars that beep every damn time you touch that button?

Bean had a couple of girlfriends there with their families. At least I'm assuming they were with their families...didn't see much of them. We have somehow become the camp site to hang out at, and I have somehow become the entertainer/feeder of the children who hang at our camp site. The upside is that they are keeping my kids entertained, so what's a little extra food?

The downside is waking up in the middle of the night and realizing that letting 4 rambunctious kids tumble on your air mattress really *isn't* harmless.

Bean came to me crying, saying that some ants were being mean to a caterpillar and she couldn't make them stop. We went off to find it, and she started spinning in circles looking for it and all I could think was "Please please PLEASE I hope I didn't step on it." We found it, and, indeed, the ants were being mean. They were the big ones, too. I dragged them all off of the caterpillar with a tiny stick, and then told Bean to pick it up and carry it away. I'm pretty sure the damage was already done, but she felt better, and that's all that really counts.

There were water gun fights, kickball games. and multiple trips to the playground. Hot dogs and burgers for the kids, and steak, baked potatoes, and a baked onion for us. You can't beat a fine wine in a solo cup. Oh, and Jiffy Pop! I totally *high 5'd* myself for that one.

There was a bonfire and s'mores at 8:00, and an old flag was retired. Some of the kids took off with a lantern and started telling ghost stories out in the field. This eventually led to the "3 girls = hurt feelings" phenomenon. H was completely beside himself that he didn't get to bed until 9:45. He is completely anal about his sleep routine. He MUST go to bed at 8:00, he MUST get up at 6:00, and there is NO napping during the day unless you are sick or on a long car ride.

It started raining at 3 am. Rain is REALLY LOUD on a tent. Rain that was not really predicted seems even louder when you realize all of your stuff is sitting out in it. It was a cold, wet morning, and I had to be out of there by 7:45 to sub a spin class. We packed a lot of wet stuff, which was then hung out to dry all afternoon.

Gosh...seems like I hit a lot of the low points, but it was truly a great trip. We're hoping to do a longer one, possibly just us, and a little more wilderness-y.

After I get a new air mattress.