Family Camping Cook Style

We got a sneak peek of a camping trip on our overnight campout with the Ashton's. That prepared us for the week-long vacation in the mountains with my Cook Aunts. They have perfected the art of camping in luxury. We enjoy the mountain breezes and clouds and weather changes while eating gourmet dutchoven food and playing games and reading books in the screen tents to keep the mosquitoes away. The camping week began on Monday August 1, and I couldn't maintain the tradition of scouting a spot on Sunday night with Nancy since Wendy got married on August 1. That was just fine, since Wendy's wedding and reception were tons of fun! Then we spent Tuesday with the Ashtons again, haveing a water balloon fight and movies. Then on Wednesday morning, Elliott and I packed up and left Brian home to go to work. We headed up to the Uintahs to Trial Lake for some camping adventures.

Here is our great spot with the camp trailer and 2 screen tents. The picnic table and fire pit are behind the screen tent.

On the left here is the sleeping tent, the dog tent, and the screen tent. (Yes, a great dane deserves her own tent, you don't want her sleeping in your bag!)

Our tent, way far away from everyone else, which was a good thing come 1:30 am when Elliott woke up screaming and throwing up. After about 30 minutes of trying to calm him down, we gave up and went to sleep in the trailer. Thanks heavens for a camp trailer, or we'd have been driving down the mountain at that point.

The inside of our tent that we only slept in for 2 hours, but then we actually napped there for a few hours in the afternoon too.

This picture was taken last year at our cmaping spot at Trial Lake. Elliott was adorable and not quite walking yet, but loved this little stump.

Below is the exact same stump this year....wow, the lake is much more full. And I'm glad we got a different spot, or all of the tents would have been under water.

Elliott didn't like or trust the water, which is a good thing for a toddler. He let me carry him this close, but wouldn't take his eyes off the water. The lake was very beautiful.

Look closely in this next picture to the Mike and Ike candies in the rocks by Elliott. He carried around the box, but they all fell out of the bottom. He just sat down, picked up a candy, blew on it and then ate it. It was hilarious - he must have seen me blow on something I dropped. I did help pick them all up, or I am sure Elliott would've eaten a few rocks in his handfuls.

There was lots to keep Elliott entertained in the campground. Mostly there were awesome, huge rocks to climb on and sit on. There is nothing better than a toddler-sized rock to perch on while eating chicken nuggets.

Mmmm, even better, a bigger rock and some cheese and breadsticks.

Yep, delicious and adorable!

We also took Thomas the train for Elliott. He loves to push Thomas and ride on him as well.

He pushed Thomas around for hours, maneuvering around rocks and stumps, and lifting Thomas up over obstacles.

We had lots of fun, played lots of card games and actually made it to phase 10 of Phase 10. The next night we just slept in the trailer - and it was harder since it was raining and Elliott didn't fall asleep in my arms watching the fire. I think he was the last one awake in our camp. But he is a cheerful camper and oh so cute, even at 5:46 am when he woke up asking for Nammie? (Sammie, my cousin) I had to tell him Sammie was sleeping and he kelt repeating Nammie leeping, nammie leeping. Eventually he fell asleep again.

Thanks so much to Jennie, Nancy, Cindy, Eileen, Gaylene and Mona for letting us come camping with them!!! We love it!