That was then. This is now. Now I'm the mom. My husband didn't grow up camping and has no nostalgic memories he's trying to relive. And we have small children with us. Camping is not very relaxing as there's a lot of parenting involved. ("Get that toddler out of the street." "Don't let him near the fire." "I suppose you can walk to the jumping pillow if you all stay together.") And never did I know how much my mom had to pack. (I have a hard enough time planning meals at home when all supplies are within a few steps. A spatula is required when making french toast! This time of year we need warm clothes and cooler clothes. And don't forget pillows!!)
However all that said, I look back through these photos and wouldn't trade the weekend for anything. There were memories made, friendships strengthened, and really yummy food eaten! It's nice camping with people who know what they're doing!! (Men with a really big propane griddle who make hibachi chicken for dinner!)
Cherokee KOA Campground or Bust!!
We are blessed to have children who love road trips.
The views from the Blue Ridge Parkway amazed us all. Jesus blessed us with a beautiful day! His creation is truly awesome.
Fall foliage!!!
And we arrived! Let commune living commence.
This is how five toddlers keep themselves busy in the great outdoors.
The Jump Pad was a hit with the preschool group.
Sully learned to slide all by himself.
Down he goes.
And has the static hair to show for it.
Again, again!
Escape from everyday life did feel really good.
The first two times we camped as a family included staying in a tent. Now with five children and being pregnant, I thought a cabin would be the way to go!
The other four families each have their own camper. The kids all seemed to embrace our cabin as the community play house. Big kids hung out on the porch. Younger kids played "family" inside.
This quaint, two-room cabin fit our family nicely. Here is the "master bedroom" with Pooh Bear "master bath". That thing was priceless with having Rylan who's only been potty-trained for a few months. And it was possibly used by an adult in the middle of the night too who shall remain nameless but didn't want to walk to the bathhouse in the dark!
Sully slept great both nights in his pack-n-play at the foot of our bed.
Philip and Rylan shared bunkbeds as usual, but...
their sisters, Braewyn and Juliet, slept in bunks on the other side of the room instead of in the next room over like at home.
Although we did a lot of group cooking, I found a few recipes I wanted to try over the campfire.
Our English Muffin pizzas turned out really good actually.
Sully enjoyed his pizza despite leaves falling onto his plate.
They must have been really good because lunchtime led right into naptime!! That boy can sleep ANYWHERE!
Rylan enjoyed sharing some leftover olives with his friend Lizzy.
This campground had lots of fun things to do including an indoor swimming pool. Swimming while looking at the fall foliage out the windows was a great experience.
All tuckered out.
Not sure if these banana bikes were pregnancy approved but they were pretty fun.
The rainbow jumping pillow may have been the kids' favorite past-time of the weekend.
I think these kids were the first ones awake each morning in the campground. I was glad I had packed boxes of doughnuts because they made a good early morning snack on our front porch.
Pajama-clad toddler roaming the street in the crisp morning air.
Thankful for some friends who told me about Mingo Falls, just a few minutes drive from the campground. (Here's a look at the whole gang!)
Some of the older kids ventured up beside the falls. Made us moms a nervous wreck.
Sully: "Why can't I climb up the falls?"
Ollie: "I'm feeling pretty good staying right here."
Funny how kids react to things. Rylan was so scared walking along the path (there was a steep drop off on one side) and terrified of every dog that came near. Looking happy here.
Proof that kids can be happy just playing with dirt.
Sadly, time to return to civilization.
“There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor." Deuteronomy 33:26
It was a quiet ride home.
This face right here says, "Camping was great!!!" Looking back on it now, I think we'll try it again one day. Sitting beside me while I type this post, Rylan has said about 20 times he wants to go camping right now.