The first of many

We are back from a 3 day camping trip at Lake Murray State Park in Ardmore, Okla!  (Thanks, Emma, for the idea to take a picture in front of each sign!)  Clay and I have enjoyed camping since we've been married, but we've always tent camped.  Well, a couple of weeks ago our lives were changed forever - we became the proud owners of a 1997 pop-up camper.  We've been talking about getting one for about a year now, and this one popped up on Craigslist and we couldn't pass it up.  Even if you don't enjoy camping I think you would enjoy one of these.  It sleeps 8, has a shower and toilet, has a sink with hot water, lots of storage, a canopy, a stereo with inside and outside speakers, has a TV antenna (we don't have a TV for it, but it's an option for down the road), has a heater and A/C - so basically not camping at all!  Clay did a great job hauling it to Oklahoma and it was even better than we had anticipated. 

The best part of the trip was that we went with 35 other people from church.  The weather was perfect - a little cold but still great - the food was amazing - the fellowship was great - the church service Sunday was uplifting - the game playing was competitive - all of the kids played together so well and we really just enjoyed hanging out with our church family. 

I guess the biggest surprise of the trip was how well the kids did.  This was Rachel's first camping experience and she just fit right in.  We knew she would be okay during the day because she would be so busy, but I was a little anxious about the night.  We had her pack-n-play set up in the camper and she just went right to sleep for naps and bedtime and slept all night long!  Poor thing had a few mishaps with crossties, rocks, tree branches, etc., but at least we can say she's comfortable camping now.  And I'm sure her digestive system will be working overtime with all of the rocks, leaves, dirt, grass and sand she ate.  And of course Ethan loved every minute of it.  One if his good friends - Sophia - was there and they just ran around together.  He rode his bike, did a lot of shoveling dirt, flew a kite, rode in the bike trailer, played with cars, and did a lot of other things.  He had a little trouble with his asthma while we were there, but nothing a few breathing treatments couldn't fix.


Super Dad pulling E & R


Ethan & Sophia resting


Eating breakfast Sunday morning


A born camper


Queen of the lunch table


All packed up and ready to head back home

I'm hoping to keep a little journal in the camper of all the places we've been and things we've seen.  Every time we went to an RV place to look at campers they would have a little sign somewhere inside the store that said, 'Familes who camp together, stay together.'  That's the plan.