More camping adventures!

Camping is a lot of work. As I am spending the countless hours preparing for this annual tradition or as I listen to Shawn get frustrated at the kids (and sometimes me) as we are loading up our van and tent trailer to full capacity, I wonder: why do we do this to ourselves? Shouldn't we just go get a hotel somewhere and order room service? Why do we think this is fun? I ask these questions again as I am shivering in my sleeping bag, scratching my numerous mosquito bites or as I am holding my breath by the hole in the ground that is cleverly disguising itself as a bathroom. But year after year, we do it all over again. Here's why:

Abby LOVES camping! She loves the bugs, she loves the freedom of running around outside all day long, but she especially loves the dirt judging by the huge amount that she collected on her person throughout the trip.

The kids LOVE playing games! Here they are playing a new one, "Munchkin Booty". I think it was almost as entertaining to watch them play it.

Nate and Grant LOVE fire! Here they are hanging out by the fire, putting their fire sticks in it and scaring me just a little.

I LOVE seeing my husband happy! Being with his family in the beautiful mountains makes him happy.

We took Kaiser with us this trip and he LOVES squirrels! The squirrels, however, do not love him.

Kade and Seth LOVE going to the river. They throw rocks, they play with fish. Good times.

I LOVE seeing my kids get along and have fun together!

I LOVE this little girl! (p.s. I stole a few of these pictures from Briana. This is one of them. Soooo cute.)

Abby LOVES the river too! She cried every time we left.

I LOVE watching these crazy, talented, creative and awesome kids perform their annual skits and songs that they work together to make up for us. I don't think they realize just how amazing and unique they are.

But most of all, I LOVE my whole family and my family LOVES to camp. So every year I will plan, prepare, shiver, scratch, cook, clean and do anything I need to so my kids can have these awesome memories together!