The Good Ole’ Outdoors…
Well, we did it. We went camping for 4 hours. From 12pm to 4pm. Oyvey… and what a crazy but relaxing fun time it was.
I didn’t want to go camping Friday night because weather reports said thundershowers. I didn’t hear any last night, and Saturday morning was just gorgeous. Now I’m not camping over until Sunday because again weather man says lots of rain. If it’s not pissing rain tomorrow I’m going to be pissed. I wanted to tent it but didn’t want to deal with the rain.
Instead we did a trial run to see how well we would do if we actually did go camping for the weekend. So we decided on a day camp at Sandy McNab in K-Country.
Prognosis:
Bringing stuff: Grade F: We fail miserably.
Fun: Grade B: We had fun…the kids did too, until they got wet and cold. Then they started to cry. They would have had more fun if I had remembered to bring extra clothes, but I failed in the bringing stuff department.
We forgot:
1. A pot to cook the chili in (had to eat it luke warm, thank goodness I had just made it that morning and didn’t have to add ingredients)
2. Ketchup, mustard, relish for the smokies and hot dogs (we only ate 3 out of 8 without the bun cuz you can’t have a bun with no toppings in my opinion)
3. Lighter fluid (this would have helped keep our pathetic fire from going out. Ryan is no Eagle Scout so our fire kept dying despite having lots of wood in there.)
4. A proper cooler (Ryan went out and wasted $5 on a throw away cooler, which surprise, surprise, broke. Our expensive “7 days keeps ice without melting” cooler is over at the in-laws. They borrowed it in December they still have not given it back. I refuse to talk to them now over other issues, so Ryan is in charge of talking to them and getting things back… fat chance that’s ever gonna happen. I’m being sarcastic cuz it takes him literally 6 months to do one thing I ask of him. My damn couches are still not back and it’s been 2 months. Only 4 months left to go.)
5. An axe. (The switch blade he got from the Philippines didn’t work that well on wood. He broke his locking mechanism, now the kids will find it and to kill themselves for sure! *sigh*)
6. Extra clothes for the kids. (They got soaked in the river and during the water fight. It didn’t help that Ryan threw Laura in the river or that Josh got cold from the water gun fight so he rolled around in the dark sand trying to get warm)
7. Shoes for Brandon (This kid constantly ends up going places without shoes cuz Ryan just throws him in the vehicle without them on. He then forgets to get the kid his shoes. I keep forgetting to check to see if the kids have shoes. *sigh* Amazing how things have changed going from 1 kid to 4. I figure shoes on the kids should be a given since we are going out! He walked around the entire time in bare feet. Thank goodness there were no thistles or broken glass anywhere he walked.)
8. Plates (Completely forgot. I remembered while I was packing stuff but as quickly as it entered the thought left. Damn I’m getting Alzheimer’s.)
9. Table Cloth (Not really a biggy, but it would have been nice since you never know who’s ass or dirty feet was on the table before you. Tables are for glasses not for asses.)
10. Dryer Lint (Extremely flammable. It caused our neighbors house across the street to go up in flames. It would be great to put with kindling we figure.)
11. Hot dog skewers (Stupid Wal-Mart had sold out of them. I did try to go buy some, but they were out. Thankfully someone raped a tree and made some skewers out of willow branches and left them behind. Thank you. I kept them. Hey, free hot dog skewers. We’re going camping next weekend (if I can find a campsite) and I need something since Wally world is sold out.)
Despite that we had fun. It was a beautiful day. Ryan fiddled around trying to build a camp fire while the kids and I played by the Sheep River. They tossed rocks in the river and built bridges to try to get across. We had lunch and made smores (I need thinner chocolate so it will melt better).
There were no mosquitoes to contend with only horse flies… Yuck. So I just had to make sure they didn’t bite the kids. I hate horse flies also. What’s up with this creation biting you and taking your blood? Sheesh. Not the brightest minds working on the creation now was there. *sigh*
And this is where it goes to hell. 3 1/2 hours into the day I bring out the water guns, and had a water gun fight. Ryan jumped into the deep part of the river with Laura, soaking her and making her cry. *sigh* People were looking at us like we were bad parents… Well, I didn’t agree with dunking her in the water and tried to stop him, but how do you stop someone who is double your weight?
Josh got upset cuz the water was cold from the water guns so then he started to cry. Brandon got upset cuz he couldn’t get his gun to shoot water properly cuz it was so big for him that he started to cry. We took our cue, packed up and left. Once again I was glad that home is only 30 minutes away, cuz the kids were tired, wet and cranky.
If kids sit too long in wetness there’s something worse than the smell of wet dog, it’s wet kid.
We went home and everyone took baths or showers. The smell of campfire is gone except for the laundry that I have to do. And yea no more wet kid smell. Shampoo is a wonderful invention.
In order to stop the kids from crying all the way home we told them we’d take them to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Bribing… such a necessary evil. We were 1/2 way there when I made Ryan turn around cuz Brandon was sleeping, Mya woke up and was quite chatty and I was tired. So I told him that he may as well take us the 3 of us back home and he can go to the movie with the older 2. Then I could get a nap and I’m not all stressed out trying to keep Mya from talking in the theatre. If it was 10pm and I knew she would go to sleep I’d take her, but not when she’s wide awake and ready to shake. Then that’s just rude to the other movie goers. He did a quick u-turn and dropped us off. Brandon kept sleeping, Mya crawled around the bedroom and I napped on the bed for awhile. They didn’t get back from the movie till 10pm. The kids liked the movie and so did Ryan. Yea Charlie.
We’ll attempt actually camping in a tent next weekend. The long weekend. If I can get a campsite. I better start calling around Monday, so far every place I’ve called is full. Crazy Albertan campers. This time I’m trying to get a spot in Southern Alberta by Waterton National Park. We’ll be going to a family reunion on the Saturday so I figured since it’s a long weekend we’ll camp as well… I’m sure I’ll once again convince myself that I’m an idiot for camping with 4 kids under 7 years old, but only time will tell I suppose.