How To: camp with a toddler

Make sure there are plenty of chairs for everyone.

Pack water shoes.

Bring a boat.

Slather on the sunscreen.

Take lots of hikes.

Climb.

Catch fish.

Smile. Relax. Get dirty.

Enjoy the company.

How To: take a spontaneous camping trip

Thursday night Matt and I found out we would be toddler-free for the evening on Saturday. Here is a snippet of our conversation that night in bed...

Me: What do you want to do on Saturday?
Matt: Let's go camping!
Me: Yes!

It didn't occur to me until Friday when I was talking to my friend Heidi that that may sound crazy to some people. Here is a part of that conversation...

Heidi: What are you doing tomorrow?
Me: Matt and I are going camping.
Heidi: What? What do you mean? For the night? Like, you're going to set up a tent and everything?!
Me: Uh, yes!
Heidi: What a waste of a perfectly good Saturday night!

Granted, some people are just not "campers". :) I think there are a lot of people though, who want to camp but are overwhelmed by the thought of all the work camping can be. That is true. Sometimes. Here are some tips on how to enjoy a last-minute over-nighter in the woods and have it be relaxing!

Be prepared. I know, right? That seems like a lame one, but here's what I mean: make a camp box. Take a plastic bin with a lid and add the following...

• Box of matches
• Set of plates, mugs and utensils for each camper
• Sponge
• Dish soap (eco-friendly, please)
• Heavy pot
• Foil
• Barbecue tools
• Wooden spoon
• Perculator
• Instant coffee, tea bags and instant hot chocolate
• Water bottle with a filter
• First aid kit
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Roll of toilet paper
• Roll of paper towels
• Wine opener
• Can opener
• Deck of playing cards
• Notepad and pen
• Poncho(s)
• Rope
• Clothespins
• Utility knife

Store your camp box next to your tent, sleeping bags, lantern, propane, camp chairs, tarp and ice chest so that when you are ready to pack up, you can just throw everything in the trunk in less than two minutes.

Keep it simple. The food, that is. For this one-night camping trip, our menu consisted of hot dogs, cole slaw (you could just pick up pre-made potato or macaroni salad) and baked beans for dinner, s'mores for dessert, and muffins, instant oatmeal and fruit for breakfast. Assuming you had NOTHING in your pantry, here is your entire grocery list...

• hot dogs (or, if you're fancy, chicken apple sausages... mmm...)
• buns
• deli potato/macaroni salad
• can of baked beans
• bag of chips
• beer/wine
• muffins
• bananas
• chocolate bar
• marshmallows
• graham crackers
• instant oatmeal
• orange juice
• ice

Pack up your vehicle and head to the store on your way out of town. We ended up having everything we needed for this trip!

Pack lightly. If you've had a baby, you packed a hospital bag. Same idea here, people. Just bring the basics and don't freak out if you've forgotten something. Say it with me, "It's just one night." Um, hypothetically, if I were to keep an over-night camping bag packed at all times, this is what would be in it...

• wool sweater
• wool socks
• flannel pj pants
• cami
• flip flops
• shorts
• swim suit
• towel
• toothbrush and toothpaste
• brush and hair ties
• sun screen
• baseball cap
• beanie

It all fits nicely in a small duffle bag with my pillow and water-resistant wind breaker secured on top. Since we are usually leaving late-afternoon after work on a Saturday, I wear jeans because it will probably be cool when we get there. Add to that a tank top, long-sleeved shirt, ankle socks, sneakers, and sunglasses, and I'm good to go.

Relax. Enjoy the drive. Play car games. Open up that bottle of wine as soon as you get there, take a few pictures, watch the sunset over the trees, and kick some butt in rummy. Or Go Fish. Your choice. :)

Next month's "How To" installment-- camping with toddlers... wish me luck...

Weekend in pictures

Finally, our camping trip last weekend!

Camping: Pinecrest 2010

We just got back from Mason's 2nd camping trip! On Sunday we met Heather and Kevin and the kids at Pinecrest, where they have their annual family camping trip.

We had such a good time, but the road getting there wasn't the smoothest. We hit the first "bump" a few minutes into the trip when the Westfalia started billowing white smoke.

Here is Mason playing patiently in the Westy as Daddy unloads it and packs up the Subaru (which you can see in the background.)

Finally on our way and guess who decides this is the perfect time to get two more teeth? No joke. One new bottom tooth cut through on the drive and the other showed up the night before we left. Lets just say that by Wednesday morning Mason was literally not a happy camper.

He did, however, enjoy playing with all the new toys (which may or may not have belonged to our group-- he doesn't discriminate.)

The big kids shared a little sibling time with the iPod.

The beach was just a short walk from our campsite. That baby hiking backpack was quite possibly Tage's best thrift shop find to date. Mason sat there enjoying his cherry tomatos and blueberries before heading off to play.

Water. Sand. Shade. Friends. What could be better? (Besides cropping Tage's hairy chest out of that picture-- hehe. :)

Heather is the cutest pregnant chick ever.

This is when you know it's time to head back to camp for nap time: Your toddler lays right down in the sand and says, "Night night."

The last evening. A little tired, a little sore, and a little hung over (in that order.)

Mason's First: Camping Trip

This face sums it all up...

Camping with a 15 month old meant spending 48 hours wiping sand, dirt, leaves, sticks and mud out of Mason's mouth. And he loved every minute of it.

We left Friday night and drove 5 hours to Big Sur. It doesn't normally take that long, but when you're in a 1987 Volkswagon Westfalia you've got to take it easy. We love this camper van. The top that is popped up in the picture makes room for a bed then the back seat lays down into another bed. There is a refrigerator, stove, cabinets and a surprising amount of storage space in there!

The weekend was a celebration for our friend Jenna's birthday and there was a group of 10-12 of us on Saturday. You can't have a camping trip without games of horse shoes, bocce ball and frisbee.

Plaskett Creek campground is right across the street from the ocean. We could see the water from the campsite and it was just a short hike down to the beach.

 One look at those waves coming into shore and then heading back out, and this was the last time Mason looked back.

 The tide would come in and as soon as it started to flow back out Mase would run full speed after it. Off I went, chasing after him and scooping him up just before he reached the water. I would run back to shore with him in my arms and the tide following me, put him down right before the waves began to recede so he could feel the cold water on his legs, and off he would go again toward the ocean. It was exhausting, but so much fun.

Then it was Daddy's turn to do some chasing.

It was so late in the afternoon that the tide came up and the water actually left us without any beach. I guess that's when you know it's time to head back to camp for a nap.

Jenna is a big fan of Jameson, so when I found this cupcake recipe, I knew I had to make them for this weekend. Behold, the Irish Car Bomb Cupcake.

Guiness cake filled with Jameson ganache filling and topped with Baileys frosting. Literally the most delicious cupcake I have ever eaten. No joke. It was THAT good.

Sunday morning Mason and I were the first ones up so we took a walk down to the beach. It was still a little foggy and everything was so quiet and peaceful. That might be my favorite part of camping-- those solemn moments first thing in the morning.

I can't wait to take Mason camping again. Our little Baby Valone fit right in with the woods and the wilderness. Although next time we'll go someplace just a little bit closer and a little bit warmer.

Before and After: Camping

Before: Ice chests full of Bud Light
After: Ice chests full of whole milk

Before: Walking leisurely down the beach
After: Running after your toddler down the beach

Before: Staring in wonder at the campfire
After: Staring at the campfire wondering how to invent a baby gate

Before: Waking up to the birds chirping
After: Waking up before the birds

Before: Rinsing dirt out of your shoes
After: Rinsing dirt out of your child's mouth

Too tired last night to upload any pictures... I'll get on it right after I wash the campfire smell out of everything!