Camping with the Cub Scouts

This week has been so super busy – I’m going to try and catch you up over the next few days. I may have more than one post per day or just some really long, photo heavy posts!

Last weekend we went camping with the Cub Scouts. It was lots of fun! We camped locally – just in one of the open spaces in our neighborhood so it was close but we had a great time.

The camp out was the Spring Family Camp Out and the Rank Advancement Ceremony. That’s when the boys actually get the ranks they earned over the year and they all move on to the next level.

Last Minute Camping Trip

On Thursday night, Rich and I were sitting around watching T.V. and Rich suggested we go camping this weekend.

The weather was going to be beautiful (and it was) and we thought it would be fun to get out and do something different for a change.

We booked up a campsite at F. D. Roosevelt State Park -- about an hour (haha) south of Atlanta -- for 2 nights.



Of course we had very limited camping gear so this meant a trip to the store on Friday to get a tent big enough for all four of us, sleeping bags for the kids and other camping necessities.

Our plan was to get all our gear while Sam was at school, get Sam, come home pack up the car and go as soon as we picked Josh up from school (about 2:30) and get to the campsite by about 3:30-4:00 ish.

Well, you know things never work according to plan. When we got home the tent storage bag had a hole in it. So we had to return it to the shop and swap it out for a new one on the way. Then we hit Atlanta Traffic!

It took a little over 2 hours to get to the camp ground. We seriously had about an hour of daylight left -- all of which was taken up getting the tent up! I took the boys to the little shop in the town for some food -- and ordered a pizza for dinner -- while Rich stayed behind and got the cots up and the fire going and the rest of the gear sorted.



It was nearly 8:30 and dark by the time we got back to the campsite with the pizza. Rich had the tent up -- and I noticed one of the cots was in the screened in porch area in the front.

Apparently, our 6 person tent only fit 3 of the cots we bought. It was crowded with them in there!

Luckily, we brought our other tent (a 3-person). So, after Pizza, Rich put up the little tent for him to sleep in.



By the time we were all settled, eaten and ready for bed, it was 11:00. Sam's bed time is 6:30! He was FRIED! And he was not very happy with his new sleeping bag! Luckily, he was so tired the crying only lasted five minutes and he was out like a light!

My sleeping bag was not so good. I was FREE.ZING. All night! I managed to put my coat and a heavy sweatshirt under my sleeping bag and that helped keep the cold away, but it was still very cold! So cold that we decided we could not stay another night (it was going to be in the 30's on Saturday night).

So, we spent the day at the park and came home late that afternoon. But we had lots of fun on Saturday before we left.

We took a walk down to the lake.





It was so beautiful!

After lunch it really warmed up quite a bit. We played outside for several hours.







Even though we were just about 2 hours south of our house, signs of spring were much more evident down at the state park.

The dogwoods were in bloom...



And the yellow pine pollen was everywhere!




We had a GREAT time and are already planning our next "last minute" camping trip.

Even Curious George had fun!



We got home on Saturday evening just in time to put the kids to bed. They were tired and happy! And excited for Easter and the Easter Bunny in the morning.

I am going to leave you with this last picture of a mushroom I found.

How fitting is this for Easter weekend?

Backyard Camping

We had a great time this past weekend.


On Friday, Josh had his last swimming lesson of the year. He did great! He swam 6 lengths (3 laps) of our 25 yard/meter pool. The first lap was free-style, then butterfly (!!!), back and breast strokes. And a final lap (up and back) in free style. It wasn't pretty, and he did have to stop, but he did it! His teacher is the swim team coach and told him to join the swim team next year! So Josh is very excited about the prospect of being on the swim team!


Saturday, Josh had his Soccer end of season party. He and Daddy went along for Hot Dogs and some fun and games. It was at 11:00 -- very hot and humid so they didn't stay long, but according to Josh it was fun! There were games for the kids, hot dogs, trophies, the usual...


In the afternoon, we went swimming. Of course.


On Sunday, Josh and Rich put up the tent while Sam was napping. Our intent was to go swimming, come home, have a BBQ with the boys and then let the boys "camp" in the back yard.


Well, when we got home from the pool, right about the time we were supposed to have the BBQ, the heavens opened and it began to pour! So we ate inside. One cool thing... just as we were finishing dinner I looked up and out our back window and saw a deer walking through our yard. Way cool!


Once dinner was over the rain (temporarily) stopped so the boys went out to play in the back yard and in the tent.



As you can see from the pictures, the boys had fun.




They said it was a clubhouse and the password to enter was, "No Girls Allowed" and when Daddy said, "Mommy's not a girl! She's Mommy!" they changed the password to "No Girls or Mom's Allowed."

I was crushed so I went inside and enjoyed the peace and quiet and sulked!

It rained again after the boys were in bed. But, the three of them decided that when the weather gets cooler, they will definitely spend the night out in the tent! Or some of the night! Or play again and sleep inside.

Tomorrow we have big plans for the 4th. We're going to our neighborhood fireworks display. Should be fun as it's supposed to be nice weather -- not nearly as humid or rainy as the last 4 years! But we will have to wait and see.... this is Georgia after all!