Our Family Campout

(Warning long post)
This last weekend Stewart and I decided to take the kids camping. I am not sure what drug I was on, why would I recommended such a vacation? I am here to tell you Melanie Adams went camping. I am using my maiden name in this because if you know us Adams girls we do NOT camp, unless it is at the Hilton Resort, so you all better be really proud of me for this one. We went to this fun little place outside of Payson that Lawana had told us about. We found this good campsite that backed up to a creek. There was no water in it but lots of rocks, sticks ,trees and dirt for the kids to get dirty in. We set up our tent and was in the process of putting up the canopy when it started raining or should I say POURING for an hour straight. As you can see in the picture below me and the kids ran for the tent and left Stewart standing there holding the canopy up. I knew eventually his arms would get tired and he would join us, mean to leave him maybe but it made for a funny picture

I agree Ethan this sticks. sitting in a tent starring at each other is barrels of fun. At this point I was trying to think of how I could convince Stewart that the Hilton has openings :)

It finally stopped raining and Stewart set out to get the fire started with wet wood. Everything was wet, our camping chairs, food, clothes, bedding you name it, it was soaked. So while Stewart was being a boy scout I decided to take the kids to the creek behind us you know the one with no water. Well that sure changed. The kids were in heaven. They could have stayed in that clean water all night. They splashed and jumped and threw rocks for what felt like forever.

I don't think Ethan left that spot it, he threw one rock after another
I know his outfit is a bit questionable but hey we are camping
Owen jumping and playing
After they about froze to death we got them in clean clothes and set down for dinner. Yes Stewart was a true Boy Scout and made a fire start with wet wood. We cooked foil dinners yummy!
We took the kids on hike or "Adventuring" as Owen would call it.
When it got dark we set on wet camping chairs and roasted marshmellows for smores
Ethan throwing rocks in the fire
Owen was the designated marshmellow roaster. He would cook them for so long they would expand and then fall in the fire he had to have done it a 100 times.
all Ethan wanted was the chocolate and as you can see he fully enjoyed it
About 9:00 we decided we should start putting the kids to sleep. Ethan has never slept anyone but in a crib so we had no idea how he was going to do. To our surprise he laid right down on the air mattress and went right to sleep. He fell asleep before Owen did. We couldn't believe it. I laid there in my wet sleeping bag covered up with my wet blanket thinking how glad I was we weren't at the Hilton. My boys had so much fun playing in the rain and getting dirty and they were both sound asleep what more could a mother ask for. Well all those cozy feelings left at 12:30 am when some idiot decided to set up camp right in front of our tent with his loud diesel truck running and the headlights shinning right into out tent making it light as day and then yelling back and forth to each other like it was 12:30 in the after noon. I couldn't believe it. Have you never heard of Camping Etiquette? Ok I haven't either but seriously there needs to be such a thing. Well of course it woke up my sweet little angel from above and this is what we had on our hands
Ethan wide awake hitting the door on the tent screaming "Get me outta here", or "Owea" (akaOwen). Getting him to go back to sleep was out of the question. Every time we tried he would totally freak out yelling and crying.
Yes, Owen slept through the whole thing. I don't know how he did, it must be because his brothers voice is so soft and quiet!! yeah right I am sure everyone else at the camp site was cussing us out. So after about an hour of trying to get him to sleep we realized it wasn't going to happen, so we packed up camp in the middle of the night with flashlight lights and went home. It was a race with the sun. We knew we had to get home before the sun came out or the kids wouldn't go back to sleep.
So I am sure you are all wondering if I would do it again? Of course I am a Jones and the Jones' camp. I really did have a good time. It was fun to be as a family with no cell phones no computers becoming one with nature :) Plus what great memories we made.
Do I deserve the Mother of the Year Award or what!!!