Camping!!!!!!!!!

We had the best best best weekend ever!!!  We had planned forever to go camping for the weekend with the Shumans but when it came down to it we could only go for Saturday night.  Slightly disappointed we came up with fun Friday night plans with them.  So really our plans started Friday day with Marci and I taking all 6 kids to the grocery to shop for all the food for camping.  We must have looked crazy and we had out wild moments but we did it.  We got everything necessary to feed 10 mouths for the weekend (at that point we thought we were going for both nights).  After shopping we let the kids play for a bit and then headed our separate ways to pack and load the cars.  Turned out J just had too much on his plate to go that night but it turned out great anyway.  We went to a local pizza place for dinner all of us that has half price appetizers until 7.  It was kinda of cold out but we sat on the patio anyway just so we could have it to ourselves and not worry about bothering any other dinners.  We ordered a crazy amount of apps and put down most of it.  Then they came over to our house to watch some shows that the kids put on for us on our new stage.  The next day we got up early and left the house by 930.  We got to Cliffy Falls about 11.  We set up, had lunch and went on a hike.  The kids did great!!!  The 4 big kids hiked on their own.  It was a moderate hike and they did it.  Av and Jackson leading the pack the whole way.  I was so proud of my big girl.  C too of course with her little legs.  Brent had on a pedometer and after that hike he had walked 28,000 steps for the day so wonder how many those little legs took.  After that we went back to the campsite to play and start the fire!!  The kids were so excited.  Marci and I had to walk to get wood so we took the babies in one double and brought the other for firewood and ice.  On the way back Marci had this huge wood stroller.  It was pretty funny.  We also went over to the playground to let the kids play.  It had rained so all the swings had big puddles under them.  The dads didn't approve but we let the kids get in the puddles and have fun.  You are only a kid once right!!

Kids having dinner. 

Everett wants to be behind Jackson every step he takes.  Wants to be doing just what he is doing.  It's pretty cute.

The girls.  Where is Emi?

Testing out the air mattress

We put E to bed about 830 (he hadn't napped) and the girls were asleep by 10.  They all did great!!  The moms and dads were able to sit around the campfire for a bit kidless!!!  Our kids slept great in our tent.  They thought it was pretty funny in the am and saw mom and dad there with them.  Sunday we got up and had a nice visit from Aunt Jemima (John) and got to enjoy her wonderful pancakes and bacon.  Then we went on another hike to see Cliffy Falls.  The middles didn't do as well on this hike but they hung in there.  It was a very pretty hike.  After the park we went back to the site to pack and eat lunch.  We got our swim suits on and left heading to the pool before heading home.  The pool was VERY nice.  Had a zero depth entry that the E's loved and C and Stella did too.  It was so relaxing.  We all got to sit on pool chairs and watch the play.  I think the dads even snoozed.  There was also a big water slide (one that curved about 4 times) that we all went down SEVERAL times.  C and E would go down with either J or I.  Everett LOVED the slide.  Even though the water was pretty cold and it was not very warm out he loved it.  Through teeth that were chattering and limbs that were shaking he would say, "water slide again."  Over and over and over again he made us take him.  Av wanted us to take her down it too but she was big enough.  We took her a few times but then Jackson wanted her to go with him.  She wouldn't.  Finally I made her.  I carried her to the slide (she was pretty okay with it).  Made her climb the stairs.  Jackson went.  I told her she would be fine and I would catch her at the end and then I went.  I left her there.  Heheeh I knew she would either follow me or walk back down the stairs.  She followed me!!!  She came and did it all herself.  She was so proud!!  We were so proud of her.  She did it a few more times before she was cold but she did it!!! About 415 we loaded in the car for an early dinner and a drive home.  C was almost asleep and E was 10 minutes later when we got to downtown Madison where we were going to eat.  We ate at a cute little dinner type place.  It was yummy.  Then it was time for the fun to be over and head home.  We had put off reality for as long as we could.  Av was out first on the drive home.  Then E.  C put up a huge fight and was pretty miserable and then finally gave in.  When we got home she was OUT.  I put her on the couch and there was no waking her.  I put E on the couch too.  He was MAD.  He was crying until I gave him his paci and then silence.  I went to unpack and this is what I found.

They were OUT!!!!

It was such a great weekend.  Wish it never had to end!!!