A Camping We Will Go...

We're preparing to take our first camping trip as a family this weekend. Six of us and a dog crammed in a tent. Don't be jealous.

My youngest two daughters have never been camping before. Sheltered children, I know. We're working toward exposing them to more things. It's been difficult allowing ourselves to splurge on things like camping equipment when we seem to move once every two years or so. It appears that we're finally in a place (financially speaking and geographically speaking) that we feel comfortable enough to do it. Mercifully, camping gear is a one time purchase.

We've reserved the campsite at McCarthy Beach State Park. It's not far from where we live. Check in is at 4pm tomorrow. I have no idea if that is the norm as far as campgrounds go. It seems like a later check in time gives you less time to get settled in and ready for dinner. Setting up the tent should be a sight to behold. I haven't set up a tent in at least 10 years. I really hope the instructions are in English.

I have had to explain what camping means to my eldest daughter. She often has delusions of grandeur and very high expectations when it comes to doing something new. At some point in her life, she has determined herself to be "Ivy: Princess of All and One Who Should Be Put Above The Rest". So, I'm sure somewhere in her princess-head, she thinks camping will be nonstop entertainment for her. I did my best to explain that camping has some exciting times (usually when an unexpected storm rolls in at 2am and your tent blows away with you inside making you acutely aware that you are no longer in Kansas... errr Minnesota) but that, for the most part, it's a relaxing time to just hang out with your family and friends. I really hope she heard me or she'll be in for a big surprise this weekend.

I shall report back with photos as to the survival of the 6 of us and our dog, who, by the way, has also never been camping.