Camping with the other Gerdeses (7.26.09)

So, I’ve been extra terrible about blogging lately. My legions of fans have made their voices heard (meaning Larry called). So, in his honor I’m efforting up again and starting with a camping post I’ve been meaning to write.
In July the four of us went camping with the other Gerdeses (hence, the catchy title). We decided to go up to Stoneman Lake, which was nice for me. We went earlier in the summer with the Kapitans and it was the first time we’d taken the kids camping. Being time number two, it was nice to know what to expect. The only complaint I’d had about time number one was my sleeping arrangements. I fixed that this time and everything went beautifully!
The kids had a WONDERFUL time with their cousins.
From the time that we got there Kennadi balanced her time between M & B.


(Probably because Payson and B were excluding her from time to time – she’s right at that garbage time in between the kids’ ages.) Anyway, Mick had a little playmate. Since he wasn’t walking at all at that point, all they could really do was eat together and crawl around on the tarp

– but they seemed to have fun. P and B were a little more adventurous. P’s been out in the woods much more often than Brook, and he felt right at home showing her all around the campsite.


He was especially excited to share with her the elk legs he found. Some lovely hunter was nice enough to leave behind what was left of his kill so that we might have a lesson in the circle of life and whether or not Bullwinkle goes to heaven. Thanks. (I guess I should just be thankful that Eric didn’t decide to put on a show with props or something…)

Anyway, camping: it’s so nice to be able to start doing things that seem like they’re entirely for the kids, but that we would choose for ourselves anyway. Ryan and I have always loved camping, and it’s awesome being able to share that love with our kids. It’s especially fun that we have more family to bring along. The boys took all four kids for a bit of a hike,











and I got to stock up on some of my Marissa time. (It’s never enough.)

At some point during day one, Brooklynn was tragically wounded. Aunt Riss was to the rescue, sharing her equally devastating gash.

Did that make her feel better?



















A little.

Anyway, the next morning we drove down the dirt road (in the back of Eric’s truck – SOOO much fun for M and B) to a waterhole to hike around,

skip rocks,













and see what we could see. Payson showed B how to take on the rock climbing,


and K was often in toe:

(Mick’s not quite there yet.)

Highlight of the mini adventure was when a snake slithered by our trail. What do the boys do? Hunt it, of course.

(It was NOT the first thought ‘Riss and I had.)

Eventually even the kids got bored when the snake was nowhere to be seen – but the boys didn’t give up for quite a while.


All in all, it was an awesome time. I can't wait to go again!