A camping we will go (or how to survive car camping with kids)

Backpacking in Hawaii, 2006, 6 weeks pregnant with Frankie

Chris and I are campers. Backpackers, actually, which is a whole different breed of campers. At least we were until we had young children, and now we're just campers, for now.

Back in our glory days we'd set off into the woods with just the packs on our backs for several days at a time. We'd hike 8-9 miles before making camp for the night, and do it all again the next day. I took great pleasure in the sense that everything I needed for the next few days is on my back. Even Maisy Dog had saddlebags to hold her food, because like I told her, everyone needed to carry their own load.


Maisy in her Saddle Bags

But now we've got these kids. And so we've got twice the stuff, and sometimes Dex (still) refuses to walk and wants to be carried.

So car camping. For a few more years.

We've got a few trips planned for this summer (glorious summer!), and I wanted to share with you my lists, because I'm a list girl, and I thought maybe some of you who are camping for the first time as a family might benefit from some of our trial and error. We're mimimalists, but not aesthetics, so keep that in mind as you view my lists.

One thing we did the first few years (when I was really unsure how the babies would do in the tent) was to do a trial run in the back yard. I highly recommend this if you have space, and really young children (like under 2). You can see if you have all your gear, you can see how the kids will react to sleeping in the tent (our first trial run Frankie was a little over 2 and refused to fall asleep, so finally around 10:30 pm she and I canned it and went inside to sleep).

The trial run in May, 2009



Okay, so here's the system. I have two big blue bins from Wal-Mart. I have taped my inventory lists to them. I stored them stacked inside one another, and only one is full of camping gear. The other will get filled with stuff just before the trip. I make sure to check things off as they go back into the bins so I know what I still need before the next trip.







Tub 1 contents:

Bathroom

• 4 Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Lotion (Sunscreen)
• Hairbrush
• Hair Ties
• Deodorant
• Shampoo
• Soap - Bar
• Washcloth
• Towels
• Toilet Paper

Kitchen

• Stove
• Fuel
• Matches
• Lighter
• 4 bowls
• 4 sets cutlery
• water purifier (this is optional if you're car camping)
• 1 big pot, 1 small pot, 2 pans
• 4 mugs
• pot grabber
• good knife
• cutting board
• can opener
• salt/pepper
• cooler
• baggies
• gallon ziplocks
• aluminum foil
• paper towels
• trash bags
• 2 washcloths
• dish soap
• wash basin

First Aid Kit

• Kid's IB Profen, benadryl
• Adult IB Profen, Allerfy meds
• Bugspray
• Baking Soda
• Neosporin
• Alcohol Swabs
• Band Aids
• Gauze
• Athletic Tape
• Needle or Safety Pins
• Tweezers
• Nail Clippers
• Duct Tape
• Blister Kit
• Ankle Wrap
• Wilderness Medicine Book

Gear

• Thermarest Chairs, Camp stool
• Lantern and Tea Lights
• 4 Headlamps
• Batteries for headlamps - 7 AAs, 1 AAA
• Compass/Whistle
• Rope
• Carabineers
• Bungees
• Bowl for Dog
• Day Pack
• 4 Waterbottles
• Leatherman
• Ergo
• Camel Back
• Camera

 Tub 2 contents

Clothing

• Hats
• Sunglasses
• Rainjacket or Coat
• Sweaters
• Jammies
• T-shirts
• Long-sleeved T shirts
• Shorts
• Pants
• Leggings
• Bathing Suit (always bring them in the summer, you never know when you will happen upon a good swimming hole!)
• Flip Flops
• Sneakers/Good Hiking Shoes
• Good Socks
• Underwear

Food (this is a general list of must-have, I add other specific meal items as necessary)

• Graham Crackers
• Marshmallows
• Chocolate
• Instant Oatmeal
• Energy Bars
• Trail Mix
• Coffee (instant Starbucks has changed my camping life)
• Herbal Tea or Hot Cider or Hot Chocolate

Sleeping (we throw all of this in our backpacks or just pack it in the car, like the pillows)

• Tent
• Rain Fly
• Tarp
• Poles
• Stakes
• Ropes for Stakes
• 4 Thermarests
• 4 Sleeping Bags
• 4 pillows
• 1 stuffed animal per child
• Old sheet (I like to put this down on the tent floor or use it for a picnic blanket)

I have found that having the bins are really helpful to keep things organized, dry, and clean once we're at the campsite.  One of the biggest struggles with camping, and especially with kids, is keeping things clean and dry.  The bins also serve as impromptu tables and chairs.  If you're camping with a young toddler, we found the car seat worked well as a high chair.

I'll try and do a follow-up post on what to bring to eat when you have only a single-burner stove, and no refrigeration.

Now go get your camp on.

A few children's books on Diligence

Without intending to, I realized I checked out 3 books from the library this past week that featured Diligence. They were wonderful, rich books that my guys loved, and I wanted to share them with you.



The Plant Sitter is from one of my favorite authors, Gene Zion, who brought us Harry and the Dirty Dog. The pictures are also done by Margaret Bloy Graham, who brought Harry to life. In the Plant Sitter, a little boy named Tommy decides (much to his parent's annoyance) to take on a summer job taking care of other people's plants who go on vacation. The house is full of plants, and the job becomes overwhelming. Tommy gets tired, and finds himself wishing people would come back from vacation. He musters his strength, however, and goes to the library to learn more about how to tame the jungle in his home. The people come home to find their plants healthier than ever, and then Tommy and his family decide to take a much needed vacation themselves!



Sophie's Masterpiece is by Eileen Spinelli, who is quickly becoming a favorite author (check out her Thanksgiving with the Tappletons this November for some holiday fun). The delicate illustrations are by Jane Dyer. Sophie is a spider, but no ordinary spider. She is a master spinner who creates beautiful works of art. "Someday, they said, she's going to spin a masterpiece." Sophie moves into a boarding house where she spins beautiful curtains and a suit, but keeps getting kicked out of rooms when people who hate spiders kick her out of the room. She finally crawls to the third floor where a young, single mother is about to have a baby. She sews a final masterpiece for this new baby, and dies after the effort. Her death is obscured, if you little ones are nervous about death, but this is a beautiful tale about diligence, and working hard to complete a vision even in the face of danger and rejection.



Angelo is by David Macaulay. This one is a bit lengthy, perhaps better for a 7 year old, but Angelo is an old man who works restoring the facade of a once-beautiful church in Rome. He finds a wounded bird whom he nurses back to health. This bird becomes his lasting friend who stands by him as he gets slower completing his work. Angelo finishes his masterpiece before he dies, but just barely. There is a sweet surprise at the end of this story that I won't spoil for you, but again, another story of an artist who works really diligently to complete his masterpiece, despite difficult circumstances.

Happy Reading, friends!

Card Game

We have turned a huge corner in my mind: we are all able to play a complete card game together, sometimes twice in a row. For our card shark Mimi, this is probably an even bigger milestone.


"Match!"

The game is simple: you need 2 decks of cards. Divy one deck up evenly between players. The players then just lay them out face up in a series of rows. Take the other deck and turn one card over a time. Whoever gets the match gets to put them together off to the side. The first one who matches all their cards wins the game.



Simple, but as I've played it more with the kids, have come to appreciate how perfect it is for the little ones. It doesn't require them to hold the cards in their hands, hidden from others, and it helps them learn to identify numbers and suit. They both like taking turns being the dealer, which in our house means you have to call out the card - King of Hearts, for example.



We've really enjoyed playing - maybe your kids will too! What are your favorite card games?

PS - I want to thank Heather Ashe for giving us this card game idea - what's it called, Heather? :)

This sweetness does not need commentary

 

Spring has finally Sprung!

Spring has finally sprung!

Remember when my house looked like this back in January?


Now this site greets you from the street


Frankie and I have thrown caution to the 65 degree wind and are wearing flip flops and sundresses. We get to work on puzzles outside and swing in the backyard swing again, and water our plants in the morning.



Frankie will take you on a tour of what's blooming at our house:

Red tulips in the backyard


This way through the gate!


Pink blossoms on the apple bush


The grass is getting long! Time to start mowing again.


Several large beds of phlox in the front yard


Tulips, Daffodils, Salvia, Lily of the Valley are in bloom. My poppies have come back, and the Easter lilies, lilacs, and day lilies are well on their way.


We've got pots of tomatoes and herbs on the front porch.

What's growing in your yard?


Happy Spring Everyone!