Tent camping.
With all four of our children.
For the first time ever.
It was a blast!
And really not that hard.
Well, that might be because my husband did most of the hard work.
Okay, I also it might have been because, after trying unsuccessfully to fall asleep in the tent, I just may have wussed out and gone home to sleep in my own bed, only to return in the morning.
But I’ll never tell.
There was lots of tree climbing.
Mostly by Nuggey.
Stick hunting.
Marshmallow toasting.
And burning.
With some lessons in how long your stick should be.
Plenty of S’more making.
And S’more eating.
Normally, I’m not a camping person at all.
But I think I might change my ways.
I am just going to invest in an air mattress for next time, though.
Our campsite was ultra private.
Not another soul in sight.
The boys tried, unsuccessfully, to break down part of this old tree.
No luck, but they had fun.
Even Stellan gave it a shot.
Our campsite was on the water.
Perfect for fishing opener weekend.
Or for sitting around munching on raisins.
Or just for more tree climbing.
Throw in a…
…bunch of time sitting in camping chairs,
some more S’mores,
and sleeping all night in a tent with Mom and Dad,
and you have the perfect camping weekend.
“When can we go again?”
“Let me look for ticks in your hair, give you a bath and put away the sleeping bags, and then we can talk about it.”
how fun! we went camping a couple weekends ago and my kids had a blast. it’s great family time
Aww thank you so much for posting this! I truly appreciated reading it and looking at all of your cute pictures. First of all, let me say, your children…uhhh…BEAUTIFUL! Seriously, every little one looks like a baby gap model or something. So cute!! It may not seem like a big deal to you, but reading this post put me at ease, and gave me the kind of courage I was looking for : ) My hub and I were talking about trying for another baby. We have one (21 months, Parker) and it’s wonderful! We just feel like someone is missing. It feels like there is a piece missing from our family, and I really want a sibling for my son…he needs one, lets just say that. We were talking about the convenience aspect of it all, but really WHEN is it perfectly convenient to have a child? Never. I have peace about it from the Lord that we should (praying/fasting) start trying. Hey, if you can take FOUR kids camping, I can do anything with two! What a blessing your blog is, thanks again! Consider me a follower
We use to camp every summer at least once when the 4 oldest were younger. I had some really bad experiences, (like a heavy rain storm and waking to a ‘river” running through our tent!) But I had some good ones too:) The kids always have fun. The fresh air is great.
A word of advice on the air mattress though, I find the air inside them gets cold, and I get really chilled, even in a sleeping bag. I found that getting a little foamy on top works nice to keep the chilly air from soaking into your bones!
I’m glad you had a great time camping. Loved the pictures and I love that campground it really is beautiful. We worked in the yard at Mom and Dad’s on Sunday and we were doing the tick check last night as well. Glad to hear you had a good time. Amanda
We also took our kids (ages 5.5 and 3.5) tent camping for the first time this weekend in Massachusetts. I haven’t done it in over 15 years but my husband has so many fond memories of camping as a kid that he really wanted to try it. Besides being uncomfortable sleeping on the ground, it all worked out well and the kids can’t wait to do it again. It’s funny…they loved the idea of smores, but then didn’t actually eat them.
We camped this weekend with 9 of our Girl Scouts this weekend and after 4 hours if solid rain flooded our tents, we fled to my inlaws mountain cabin!
Cute pictures! It looks like the kids had a blast! I really want to take my kids camping for the first time this summer!
Love the pictures! In my family of camping “men”, I’m an outcast. I like to go camping, but I don’t like sleeping in a tent with all the, um, odors that go along with camping men
Also, the bug issue. Just the mention of ticks has me itching. But smores make up for all of that !
Did you leave PC with all 4 kids when you went home to sleep? Next time we can do it together!
My family, of 7, LOVES to tent camp….well actually 6 of us love it. I, like you, end up at home in my silent house asleep in my bed. But my husband and our 5 children love to sleep in a tent together.
What a great family outing! Looks like everyone, even you, had a good time!
Wonderful nature pics!
On your new blog, if people reply to a comment does the person who made the original comment get an email letting them know?
I’m not sure…did you get an email from this?
Nope! If you could add that feature to comments again it sure is helpful!
I can’t believe you did this pregnant and everything! How did your back feel the morning after sleeping on the ground?
Did you get a new lens? These pictures are so crisp! Thanks for sharing.
Oh man, you are so, so, so brave. How in the heck did you keep Stellan and Small Fry away from the fire? That’s my biggest fear of taking our 17 month old along on a camping trip. Well, that, and him taking a stick in the eye. Or wandering away and getting lost in the forest. Or charging right through a huge patch of poison ivy. Ok, apparently, I have many neuroses about it, but someday we WILL camp again! You have given me hope!
That looks like a blast. Nuggey’s so cute in his close up cheesin’ smile!
We had our first camping trip last year when our kids were 5,4,2 and 8 months. It was a lot of fun! The best entertainment was just watching the kids playing and having fun
I’m with you! My hubby takes our girls camping and I stay for the day to visit and cook out but when bedtime comes, I head for home. I am NOT sleeping in a tent on the hard ground. No sirree.
Cute pics! I would have loved all but the sleeping in the tent myself, I think…especially if I were very with child. I probably would have hit the bed too. Hmmm…I am not sure I am ready to have this first just yet for us!
Yours looked fun though!
Wow, y’all are ambitious! And I had to laugh at you sleeping in your own bed…that’s totally me. I don’t like sleeping on the ground and I’ve never tried it pregnant like you are!
Love all the pics. The big boys are so cute in their matching outfits…and the “littles” are precious, too. Glad you had a great time! Have a wonderful Sunday. :0)
I would SO be sleeping in my own bed too… an dI have no excuse- I’m NOT pregnant!
Looks like a FUN trip! Fabulous pics as always. 
How fun! Great family memories, and your photos are terrific (as always).
I love love love Small Fry’s froggy shirt!!
be careful my friend … you are treading on dangerous waters. camping is an addiction! i had never camped growing up, my idea of camping was a super 8 hotel instead of the hilton. And then, well then I got married to a man whose family camped on every single vacation they ever took, even at disney world, they camped. I agreed to try tent camping once to shut him up but low and behold i loved it. our girls were much younger at the time and they also loved it. after many years and lots of saving money, we bought a small travel trailor, actually thinking the girls wouldn’t want to go with us much since they are grown now … boy were we wrong, not only do they go, they bring friends! we camp with friends from church on a regular basis. i cannot begin to tell you the fun we have, the relationships we’ve built and the incredible family time we spend together. no tv, no internet. we play board games, hang out and fish … lots of things that actually require personal interaction between family members. i would without a doubt recommend camping to anyone who actually enjoys spending time with their family, it is a huge blessing for our family. we are going for a long holiday weekend over memorial … pack on up and head east to nc and join us
You have so many great pictures. I get one good pic for every 5 or 6 that I take, so that would be a lot of sorting… =) Thanks for sharing!! It looks like a ton of fun for those kiddos. And I’d be sleeping at home in my bed if I were pregnant too…so no judgment here.
Good job getting them out in nature.
FUN! I love camping with my daughter and when my friend brings her three little boys along it’s even more fun (exhausting but fun).
Camping is the best family memories….as a matter of fact my family was sitting around a camp fire in our backyard last night and my 11 (almost 12) year old daughter told us that camping is her favorite family memory. My 7 year old said that our family trip to Florida was hers but she thinks camping is second best. It is so nice to get outside, get fresh air and we are usually able to let the kids run a bunch when we are camping. And it gets us out of the house and the kids always meet new “friends”!!!!
My half-sister was over for a weekend when I was little and we tried camping in the back yard… needless to say it pored rain the tent riped and I wet the sleeping bags lol! we arrived back in the house at 2am wet and cold!
I am such a camping weenie! I love the idea of camping, and if the conditions are just so (not too hot, not too cold, not too buggy…you get the idea) I can actually enjoy myself. I did find that having an air mattress made all the difference. Also, get a carpet remnant that fits the floor inside your tent. Much more comfy than slippery, muddy, sandy, lumpy tent floors, and easier to clean up too!
First time commenting.. I must say I love the new blog. When my boys were younger we camped all the time. We took my youngest when he was only 3 months old. The more we went the more stuff we took. Air Mattress, Plug in cooler were just a few of the must haves. Enjoy camping with your children they wil be good memories:)
AWESOME!!
mmm – s’mores… try them with nutella sometime, its amazing 
Add peanut butter to the graham cracker when you make s’mores! Yummy!
We have not YET ventured out on a family camping trip, but it is in the plans. Hubby and I enjoyed camping before marriage and kids. Great fun love the photos!
I loved camping with my family! We would spend every August tent camping all over the state of Texas. My dad said that was the best time to camp, especially since we had a big family. As I got older, I realized that August was the best time to camp because MOST people weren’t crazy enough to tent camp in Texas in August!
But, even with the buckets of sweat and huge quantity of sunburns – they were some of the best times I’ve ever had! It’s really fun to camp when your family is big because you automatically have playmates to go exploring with you!
What fun pictures you guys will have to reminisce the days of camping…
I love camping it looks like you guys had a blast!
I love the actual camping part. I’m not a fan of packing or unpacking. Glad you all enjoyed your first camping trip.
I haven’t been able to sleep straight on the ground since before having children. I think that when your hips widen it just makes it painful for a side-sleeper. At least that is my excuse. We grown-ups have a double cot that includes a air mattress on top! Not as good as a bed, but much better than the ground! We probably won’t get camping until the end of summer since I am having a c-section on Thursday and probably won’t be up for outdoor sleeping for awhile
my husband took our 3 yr old for the first time last night. they had a blast. minus the fact that i forgot to pack a pull-up & she peed everywhere in her sleeping bag. oh well. the marshmallows were a HUGE hit. yay for camping! i love it! (oh, i was home with the 19-month old. maybe next year..).
Memories made for a lifetime!!!!!
I LOVE camping… 2 years ago we took our 3 kids (4 and 2 year old twins) camping for two weeks in Quebec (15 hours away). Everyone thought we were crazy!! Esp. since it was tent camping..
Then last year we went for two weeks again this time with a 5 year old, 3 year old twins and a 10 month baby. It was amazing time. People thought we were even more crazy!! But it was the best time… I am so looking forward to this year again!
*Amy*
My idea of camping is pulling a Winnebago into a Holiday Inn! LOL- Glad YOU had fun though!
We love camping, too! But, my idea of ‘roughing’ it involves a 35 foot motor home with A/C, TV, shower, kitchen, comfortable beds, etc. My ancestors worked like crazy to provide a better life for generation after generation of our family. Who am I to drag our family back down into living under a canvas sheet, cooking over an open fire and (um) pooping in the woods?
Just kidding – - – I really do enjoy camping . . . but I like my creature comforts a whole lot more!!
We love tent camping still and our littles are now 22, 20, 18 and 13. All went camping from the time they were born, but I don’t blame you for heading for a soft bed. We have deluxe air mattresses that make a huge difference! Memories of the many, many trips around and around the campground at night trying to put someone to sleep and then sitting in our car or even driving out of the campground in the early morning hours when our loud little voices were wide awake and our camping neighbors did not want to be! Love your campsite!
I love camping this will be the thrid year that we have camped for a full week as a family and the second year with all four of our children. This year I will be 5 months pregnant and have a 1, 3, 6, and 7 year old. I can’t wait!!!! I love camping!!
We love camping, though we have upgraded to a tent trailer. It sleeps 8 and I can cook inside if it rains. We did go camping once when we had 4 littles and I was 2 weeks from my due date with number 5. We have an air matress on a foldable frame so it’s almost like a real bed. I didn’t have to climb off the ground in the morning. Perfect!
i love camping. we go maybe 1\2 dozen times a summer? we’ve only camped with 1 kiddo, but it sure is fun. it’ll get easier, and by all means, get an air mattress
I grew up in a camping family. I told my hubby that our wedding vows had to include… “and NEVER camping”. We’ve been married 38 yrs & I am happy to report that it’s been 39 yrs since I have been camping.
We’ve never tried camping with all of our kids (we have 4). The last time we went, our oldest was 3 and I was about 6 or 7 months pregnant with our second child. I didn’t sleep. It was not very enjoyable… however, if we’d had a campsite like yours, secluded like that, it might have been better. You know, if I hadn’t had to spend all my awake hours (which, did I mention? All night?) worrying if our son was going unzip the tent and stumble around in the dark and fall in the fire pit or the river…. ugh. Guess I shoulda mentioned I can be a worrier, huh?
I do enjoy camping. The best camping trip I’ve been on is when my husband and I took a spontaneous (read: before children) trip to the Boundary Waters. That was amazing. 
That said, I’d be up to try it again sometime. Like when we only have one in diapers… Or none.
And now I totally wanna make s’mores!
Adorable pictures. I wouldn’t blame you if you went home to sleep…
We were camping family when I was growing up and had a blast. Now I have my own family and we are a hotel/resort family… 
How fun! I am moving back to the frozen tundra (from Milwaukee) next month and I am so looking forward to some outside time like you all enjoyed this weekend! There really is nothing like spending a night in the woods!
Oooh, I LOVE camping. Okay, okay, I really don’t like the bugs, or sleeping on the ground, or getting reeeeally dirty, but I really do like the IDEA of camping! HA! The photos are great. And that Stellan – be still my heart. How did he get so big?!
PS Can I just say how much I love your new site?? Mainly for the commenting system. DISQUS hardly ever let me in!
nothing like lifes simple pleasures!
and your pictures are proof of that!
<3
That looks like so much fun! You are one brave lady. My husband and I were batting around camping with our kiddos this summer, but we were just talking about taking the older two and leaving our two year old at home. But now you’ve made me think that maybe we should give it a try with all of them? Did Stellan sleep okay outside?
in the picture of Stellan eating raisins, you had just mentioned fishing, and at first I thought the raisins were a bucket of WORMS! eeeek!
Yes, good “gear” makes a campout all the nicer
Get yourself a little cot or a good sleeping-pad.
I have always liked camping, but have also found it hard to be brave enough for it with small children.
Most of my problem is that I really hate it when my kids don’t get enough sleep, and it is SO HARD to get them to fall asleep all in a tent! I need to get over it though and just enjoye it even if we don’t sleep and are all crabby the next day. When I look back on the times we have gone, we only remember the good things about it anyway.
fun!!!! so glad it was enjoyable for ALL
love that nuggey kept climbing trees.
I’m in a campground as I type this. Of course I’m not in a tent, our quarters have a microwave, 2 TV’s 2 recliners, his and her’s computers, a fridge, a freezer and Corian countertops. You guessed it we’re in our RV,. Then again this is HOME as we sold the house and our belongings and travel the highways and byways of this great country. Oh what a life!
When I got married I told my husband that I would only go camping with him if he found a way for me to sleep in a tent without my hip digging into the ground. We tried air mattresses, but they always went flat. Then we got a sleep pad from REI. They’re expensive, but so worth it because they don’t go flat when you lay on them. If you have access to an REI, you should definitely try one out!
(wow, that sounds like a commercial, but I promise nobody paid me to say that!)
Glad you had fun! I knew you would survive it!
I can’t believe how BLONDE Stellan is!!! That’s crazy!!! We have yet to brave the whole family camping event. We are probably going to do it this summer in Colorado though, when we head there for a worship retreat in the mountains. I’m not exactly sure how I feel about it… at least we’ll have one of our babysitters with us to help out!
one complaint. I know it’s way messier, but you didn’t melt the chocolate for your smores! put chocolate on graham on rock near fire to melt while roasting marshmallow. when mallow roasted and chocolate softened (not liquid), assemble smore. again, so so messy but a million times more delicious. also, use a resees peanut butter cup instead of
chocolate (if you love pb/choco as much as I do). heaven on earth. seriously. =)
We don’t camp but do love to make smores . . . the rock idea for the marshmellow is really good! Have to tuck that away for next time I am at a campfire/bonfire.
I’m glad someone else pre-melts their chocolate! people think i’m crazy…what can i say, i’m a smore master!
man, I wanna be one of your kids now! you do the “funnest” things with them! It’s so cute how Stellan tries to keep up with the big boys
(well, from what I can tell… since I only know him from blog pics!)
Love your pics, as usual. I’m not really a camper either. I’m workin on it though for my husband.
alicia
Stellan is such a cutie! Glad they all had fun!
I haven’t been camping in years, and, if I recall correctly, I hated it! But you made it look fun (and yes, I did catch that little bit about sleeping in your own bed!). If I could do the own-bed thing and kick in an own-shower thing, I’d be right there with you!
You always make me want to go shopping for a camera.
I love camping! That was my favorite vacation as a kid. Well that and Disneyland, of course! You guys should go to Disneyland sometime. Big Mac and Nuggey are at like that prime age for it. I just went with my sons and we had a BLAST!
Great pics. I totally love your work. As for the air mattress….greatest investment yet for us while camping!!!
Oh, and I have to say…reading your blog and the nicknames you have for your kiddos…I have kind of adopted one of them….for my daughter….and it’s not Small Fry….but instead, Nuggey!! lol
looks like fun!
I have to know where you get your boys shorts. I love how long and comfy they look!
I am an indoor girl myself.
We’ve tried the tent camping thing, which led to cabin camping. But we’ve had not so good luck with either.Seriously. Bees, ants, flies, you name it, we had it. 
So we are gonna invest in a camper next year. Comfy, padded bed and heat/air, a tv. An indoor girls dream. God bless.
Sounds like y’all had fun!
I hear ya on sleeping in the tent…every time we go camping (which isn’t often) I pile more blankets *under* me than over me. Ha. It’s all about comfort, right?!
How fun! Though I am not much for camping I think I’d even enjoy it now that I have a family of my own. Great pictures!
so fun.
Climbers paradise.
I know two boys who would dream to be with you …..
My nephews Bastian and Nathan but this week they are at belgium beach with coats and hats lol.
props to you! There’s no way I’d go camping while I was pregnant. Or with 4 kids. And to do both… H.E.R.O.
looks like great fun…Im just cracking up that you let the boys wear white shirts camping. Your kids alway look so cute!!!
Some of my best memories of being a kid are of going camping! We loved doing that as a family! Of course, we never truly “roughed” it completely…we always slept in tents, but my parents were on an air mattress in theirs and my sister and I slept on those 3-part lawn chair laid flat covered in comfy sleeping bags. Some of the best times though. Glad you all enjoyed it!
(and I’m pregnant too and would have trouble being comfy in a tent right now, so I don’t blame you for going home to sleep!!)
Sounds like fun!!! We would love to go, but since our little one is only 11 months and still prefers to eat leaves and sticks rather than S’Mores, we may wait a while.
)
Fun! Hope they caught some fish today on opener! My hubby is up north fishin’ it up.
I LOVE camping. I remember when my family started several years ago…air mattresses are life savers lol.
-Taylor
http://www.hesnotfinishedyet.blogspot.com
Absolutely love it!!! We can’t wait to go camping, waiting for the snow to stop and what is left to melt though….still a bit too cold at night in the mtns for me to venture out in a tent with two little ones! Looks like it was a blast! Did PC catch any fish?
How FUN!!!
We love camping!
Your Photography is amazing but you probably knew that! (jejejeje–giggle)
We are going camping close to San Antonio next month!
isn’t it fun?! my boys loooooove camping. they would prefer to live in the woods, and my husband too! one of my boys were even concieved while tent camping~ ha! {my first child} don’t worry! i don’t blame you for going back home to sleep. unrested pregger mama needs her rest! love the pics~ too cute. are you sure nuggey isn’t half monkey?!
much love and blessings~ erin
So cute!
oh fun times!
)
I love camping!!! Even for one night- great memories!
I’m first whoo hooo