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We took the kids camping – AGAIN!  Can you believe how stupid we are it?  We almost took the dog too (just ’cause we like to punish ourselves like that), but changed our minds and kenneled her.  Never mind that it cost more for her to stay than for us to camp… It was worth not having her, since dogs were not allowed on the beach and we couldn’t have left her at the campsite alone.  Maybe next time.

This time, with the long weekend, we chose to stay for two nights.  With all the work we have to put into assembling and dismantling the tent, I thought it would only be worth it to go for a little longer.  Of course, our camp neighbors probably didn’t think so.  Maybe next time we should camp in the true wilderness so the kids can scream their fool heads off without constantly being shushed by us.

We headed north on Saturday as soon as Maria’s soccer game was over (hers was the last of the day).  The drive should have only been about 2 hours, but the kids needed a pit stop.

Facing a stop, Maria announced that she forgot to bring SHOES.  I promise you I am not lying.  She really forgot to bring shoes.  ANY shoes.  (Don’t ask how this happens.  We already tried.  It absolutely boggles the mind.)

Dan and I started to get a little nervous, as daylight was running out quickly and we still had 30 minutes to go.  Thankfully, we found a Wal-mart right on our way and I made the fastest trip in and out ever.

We arrived at the campground with just enough daylight left to pitch our tent and get a fire started.  The first night we roasted hotdogs and then made s’mores.  With a longer stay, we had to cook more on this trip (a little easier said than done).  We had the necessary sundries and the right equipment, but not quite the finesse.  I made a “Mountain Man” breakfast Sunday morning – essentially an egg, sausage, cheese and hash browns casserole.  It was good.  Except for the burnt parts.  Thankfully, I also brought refrigerated dough and was able to fry up some doughnuts for the kids.  Now those were a hit!

The rest of Sunday was spent at the beach and on the dunes.  A Caribbean vacation it wasn’t, but the weather was absolutely perfect.  The sky was as clear and as blue as the water.  The kids had a blast.

A shovel and sand. It's all he needs.

The princess tests the water

Dan and Luke running down the dune

Loving it!

Yes, he's eating sand.

In Lake Michigan. In October.

We returned to our campsite for a cold-cut lunch and a nap for Andrew.  Dan and the big kids headed back to the beach and I tidied up and started preparing for dinner:  Beef Stroganoff.  It was great.  Except for the burnt parts.  For dessert, I made raspberry cobbler (We’d had it at the Garcia’s cabin when we were in Utah and it was excellent.)  I managed to do it right and it was a huge hit – with everyone.  No burnt parts

On Monday morning, we woke early and I fixed Beignets for breakfast, which just might have been the highlight of the whole trip! ( I would have snapped a picture, but they were gone as soon as I turned my back.)

After stuffing our faces, we packed up our campsite and went on a hike.  It was a short hike, and we found ourselves at the top of a dune, facing the lake.  Another perfect, beautiful, clear day.  I took a few pictures (I’m forever hopeful that way) and we headed back.

A long trail for such a little boy.

Love seeing them together.

Do they look alike to you?

NOT Christmas card worthy.

On the way back, we took a small detour to check out another trail and then promptly got lost.  Really.  I couldn’t make this stuff up.  Dan and Jack and I all had differing opinions (imagine that) about which direction we should go.  After trying several different options, I pulled out my iPhone.  It showed us exactly where we were.  Too bad it didn’t help, as it didn’t know where we had left the van.

Just when Maria was starting to worry about having to eat twigs and leaves and Luke was at the height of his tick obsession, (I had found one crawling on him earlier) we found our way back to the path that led us to our van.  Whew!

We couldn't possibly feed twigs to this cutie.

We made it home safe and sound on Monday afternoon.  And slept well in our own beds.

I’m still doing laundry.