Suburban Camping

Last weekend Cullen and Carson said "let's go camping in the backyard tonight!" The only problem was that it was 8:00 and we were settled in front of the TV so we scheduled it for this weekend. We have camping supplies from Cullen's one year in cub scouts, although said supplies have been in the attic since then. We dragged them out, wiped off the battery acid that had dripped on the tent bag (but not the tent) from the lantern's batteries, bought a new lantern, supplies for s'mores and hot dogs and were ready to go. Our house is on a pretty big, treed lot and backs up to woods so it feels a little woodsy but it IS in a neighborhood in Prairieville no matter how many trees there are. Apparently this is still great fun and the boys were counting down the minutes until their camp out with Daddy. Mommy has to stay inside with the baby... oh, darn ;)

• 6:30 p.m.- arrive home from my parents cabin in Folsom which, ironically, would have been a great place for a true camp out. We picked up take-out from Griffin Grill for me and Kevin. I don't do hot dogs for dinner.



• 7:00 p.m.- tent is set up; boys helped by... well, they didn't help at all



• 7:30- fire is started in fire pit; boys helped by... well, they didn't help at all



• 8:00- baby is in her crib sleeping and mom/camp butler has prepared plates of food and all food supplies and delivered outside



• 8:30- hot dogs and s'mores consumed; boys come inside to brush teeth and get essentials



• 8:45- Kevin comes in to find boys, who are still packing essential toys



• Cullen's list of essentials: alarm clock (so he will know what time it is), monster spray (Febreeze in a small bottle with a label that says Monster Away Spray), and some pokemon toys.



• 8:50- they are off to the tent to tell ghost stories



• 9:00- they are back inside, Carson with all of his essentials and ready to come in. He apparently didn't want SCARY ghost stories



• 9:10- everyone back out after promises of no more ghost stories.



• 9:45- no word from Suburban campers. I figure either our newly-located outside cats attacked them or they are asleep



• 10:00- electricity goes out. God does have a sense of humor; he wanted me to feel like I was camping out too.



• 11:00- I realize cleaning by flashlight doesn't work so I give up and go to bed.



• 4:30 a.m. Baby wakes up ready to play and I note that all of the suburban campers are still outside. Success! I know it's mother's day today but I think I will let Kevin take a nap later;)