Family Camping Adventure

And the fun family togetherness continues. This week Ed and Salena arrived with their kids early in the week. Kevin had the awesome idea to go on a camping trip while they were here. Voila! Ed said we were too comfortable to call it camping (apparently camping should be miserable.) But my idea of camping involves tents, air mattresses, shade, games, and of course a good book! We went up Big Cottonwood canyon for an overnight camping vacation. It wasn't all too easy since we forgot the lighter fluid and actually had to build a fire to heat the charcoal briquettes to cook our tinfoil dinners. But no fear, Salena is a seasoned girls camp director and had a flaming fire going in no time!

Then we put up an easy-up over the table to keep the sprinkling rain off us as we played games. It was posh posh all the way! The nice thing about camping close to home was that family came up for dinner then left to go back home for the night. Grandpa and Grandma Ashton came up along with Melinda and her kids, Karen and Jonathan and Wendy. Our tinfoil dinners were super easy and super good, made with tater tots, chicken, red peppers, onions, enchilada sauce, cheese and the bravere ones with jalepeno peppers too. We also roasted breadsticks wrapped around dowels over the fire.

Now just waiting to eat.

Grandpa pulled through again and pulled the tinfoil dinners out of the hot hot coals.

Elliott was so so so thrilled to have cousins Rachel and Teancum there to play with! Rachel especially led Elliott around. She even helped him to accessorize.

Stylin'!

Rachel rocked the sunglasses too!

The boys had a blast playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Elliott learned early that you can't hike properly without a walking stick.

Modern-day camping is complete with jumping over the speed bumps.

And the best new game of the week: running in circles around Uncle Kevin!

Sadly Brian had to keep working and didn't get to come camping. We all missed him and Elliott missed him for sure and bonded with Uncle Kevin. Thanks Kevin and Scott for taking the kids on walks and playing and "fishing" with them!

I love the mountains and camping and it was a lot of fun to be with family and talk around the campfire until late. It was so great!

I hope that you all can get a chance to go camping or at least for a picnic up in the mountains. We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful place and to enjoy it!