Breaking in the Camper

We are camping this weekend close to home so that we could get use to the new camper before we take it out of state. Fri was nice, we had a camp fire and Kent cooked stew over the fire. Baylie fished some... Today, is pretty windy, so we will prob hang out in camper a lot and watch movies/play scrabble.

I've not felt well for a few days... Kent was sweet and bought me a new heated throw as I've been really cold even in camper. Keeps me from burning them out...:)

We love the camper, Baylie was so surprised when we picked him up from school on Friday!

New Camper

So.... Friday, we traded in our camper for a new one that better fits our needs. Since the kids are older, we no longer needed the bunk beds. It was kinda sad to see our old one go-- such great memories and it was our first camper. But we r super excited about the new one. It has a huge picture window that will b awesome look out at the lake or mountains. We've already got some out of state trips planned which will be a first... We are surprising Baylie this weekend..he is out of school on Friday so were are taking him camping-- he has no idea that we traded! Can't wait to surprise him and get away for the weekend. We plan to relax, build a fire, play games and cook outside!

Lake Bums...

That's what we were for 10 days....  We camped at the lake for a total of 9 nights for the week of the 4th of July.... We had the best time ever.... We slept late, had late breakfast (my favorite).  We spent our days out on the lake- floating on rafts, cruising around the lake.  We grilled on the boat several nights, even had pizza delivered to the Marina one night--Baylie's favorite, watched fireworks from the boat. Had a camp fire one or two nights, played lots of Phase10 and scrabble--we're very competitive when it comes to playing games.  Me and Kent enjoyed 'happy hour' as we like to call it most evenings while preapring to grill.  Baylie helped cook breakfast one morning which was a first--sausage on the griddle was his speciality-Kent took care of the pancakes.  He's really gotten into helping and we think it's great.  Camping is fun but it is alot of work and the more that you share the work the better it is for everyone.  My two boys fished a few nights from the boat, while I read and had wine.  No fish fry though...  Lol  We also met some fellow campers across from us that cooked us a great Dutch Oven dinner one night, Marvell and Gary--they were great--had alot of fun talking to them around a campfire.  We plan to stay in touch with them. 

It was a great week--something that we plan to make a tradition...  Britnie, my daughter came up for a few days and stayed.  She and her brother watched a movie one night in the camper and made smores.  Makes my heart feel good any time I get to see the two spend time together..  Now that she is older and works, she doesn't camp as much but I love it when she comes up.  The other two kids were not able to make it...  It's really quite a show when we have all four at the lake--which is not very often.  Three of the 4 are basically grown so mostly it's just the 12 year old that camps with us these days.  He's a great camper and loves to help.

Camping is a big part of our Summer--'our second home' and we love it.  I thrive in the Summer.  I love all things Summer--you rarely hear me complain about the heat or humidity in my case, since we live in AR.  We plan to Fall camp some this year--which we've never really done....  Really looking forward to the cool air, cooking over a open fire and going for some hikes.  Will be much different than Summer camping but we think it will be alot of fun and look forward to the new experience.

Camping with a Burn Ban.....

Me and Kent went on a camp trip this past week-end with some good friends to Maumelle Park.  We were very disappointed that we couldn't have a camp fire--we've been on a burn ban here for a few weeks.  Camping in the fall w/ no fire= one very cold momma.  We had fun, enjoyed the campground during the day and once the sun went down we enjoyed watching a movie in the camper and playing games.  We slept late and ate really good.  Food always taste so much bettter cooked outside..... A very relaxing week-end (guess you can tell--we were kid free)  :)  On the way to Wal-mart Sat to get stuff to make some spice tea (even hit a yard sale)....  Kent got a good laugh at that one....  But man did I score....  Good stuff for the camp week-end (Pictures to follow)

Here's our 2nd home--especially in the Summer.  We spend most of our summer camped at the lake....

SPICE TEA-- To keep us warm.....

1 jar unsweetened Lipton Tea (I use decaf)
1 Container Tang
1 Container Lemonaid
1 Cup Brown Sugar
2 tbs Cinnamon

First time to make it and loved it! 

So, This is part of my SCORE.....
Story goes.. While at Wal-mart getting Spice Tea ingredients--thought about getting a coffee maker for the camper so we could have hot water for hot tea/hot chocolate without having to heat it up one cup at time.....    But decided I didn't want to spend the xtra cash--so I passed....  On my way back to camp.... Seen a Sale and of course I had to stop....  Coffee Maker in the Box $5.  Vintage Thermos $2 .... What are the chances?? SCORE!!

At the same Sale..  I got this game to keep in the camper..  Good for rainy days or cold nights without a campfire... :)  Perfect Condition--game was actually from like the 80's.  $3  We had so much fun playing it and Phase 10 in the evenings.

So, This was a deal in a sense...  We've been eyeing this grill at Kroger's for a couple of years.  We usually stick with Gas at home and save Charcoal for camping.  But, there's just something about Charcoal--makes the flavor so much better for ribs and burgers...  We stopped at the Kroger's by the Campground to get some Charcoal and seen that they were marked down.  The grates were a little rusty from being in the weather and there wer some loose screws--left over from the summer--so my husband decides we should ask the manager if he'll give us a deal on one??  (He's learning... Lol) and the Deal was Done ... Mgr sold it to us for fifty buckaroos!  We were so excited!  I even snagged some bags of  hardwood that were on clearance to go with it....

All in all it was a great week-end...  and I look forward to many more......