Camping

This past weekend, we went on a great camping trip with Chloe's Kindergarten class, to Mt. Laguna. Miss Morgan, Chloe's teacher is an avid camper, and picked the most perfect group campsite, in one of the most beautiful mountains. To top it off, it was only 50 miles from our front door.


Our Resident Class photographer Emil, took some great photographs of the group, please click here and take a look. His pictures will tell you the story....

We had not camped with the kids until now. So, it took alot of work to get equipped with all the necessary things one needs to camp. I have to admit, I was worried about not being able to sleep well, and all the dirt that was going to engulf myself and my family, but, in the end, I think I did a good job of becoming one with the ruggedness of camping. I was fortunate enough as a child to take lots of camping trips with my family, and it was a delight to reconnect with those childhood memories as I sat by the fire with friends and family. I am happy to be able to be a part of making new memories of the outdoors with my children...





We did some hiking through a beautiful meadow, saw an amazing view of neighboring mountains, sang by the campfire, ate great food, and just hung out sharing stories and with each other. One of my favorite parts was sitting by the fire with Matt playing his guitar and leading us in song, and Emil playing his harmonica behind him. I think it was the first time I belted out with song...not caring that I was totally out of tune. Later, I found out that Matt has never sang in front of anyone but his family, and I was blown away...because at one point, it felt like the Real Neil Young was singing... He also was serenading us with his beautiful steel guitar as we set up our tents. The next evening, as the stars shined down on us, Travis...played some great tunes on his guitar, it was great. I just kept thinking to myself, what cool people I am surrounded by...




The kids had so much fun...they set the butterly's they had in their classroom free, got to hold a toad, played endlessly on a formation of rocks in the campground, had smores, (Chloe and Blake's first) had a water fight, sang songs, you name it, they did it !! It was fun to watch them...





Some of the simple pleasures for me during this trip still stick in my mind...

Sitting outside my tent after breakfast, in the warm sun, with a bowl of cool water and a wash cloth to cleanse my face with...I can't tell you how satisfying that moment was for me.

The smell of coffee in the morning, and the first taste of my Earl Grey tea...

All the fresh fruit that was so abundant on our picnic tables

The smell of the Lemon/Eucalyptus Bug spray we used

The "Bottle of Irony" one of the best tasting Pinot Noir's I've had in a while..

The warmth and glow of the fire

The brilliantly bright stars in the sky at night

The Jello shots

Watching the kids play and play and play




I could go on and on...


Here are some of my photo's...I wish I had more...but I was to busy having fun...you can check out the rest on my flickr page..








The trail..



Daddy with Blake on his shoulders during the hike..



Polly Pocket's gettin' dirty




In the end, we came back dirty, and exhausted, but excited about all the camping trips to come...

Thanks Morgan, for getting us all together...I hope we will do it again...