Grandparent Camping at Bent Trout

We just got back from our annual camping trip with Auntie and the grandparents. I'm basically dumping duffel bags into the washer, pulling stuff out of the dryer, and putting it back into duffels because we are heading north again this coming weekend. I currently feel like my second jobs are laundry and packing. I'm quite the pro.

However, all that packing and laundry is well worth it because we are having so.much.fun this summer. Our camping trip with the grandparent segment did not disappoint and we have the bug bites to prove it! Everyone needed a shower (or two) when we got home - including Yogi - so you know we did it right.

See the OG of these three here

We left around 10:30 Friday morning and with a few minor delays for traffic, lunch, and DVD player repairs, we arrived at Bent Trout campground early afternoon. Gma and Gpa N, Gpa V, and Auntie were already there. The kids happily ran around checking things out, playing with the puppies, and exploring the playground and beach area. Once everyone was settled and Auntie's tent was pitched, we put our suits on and headed for the beach.

Last year, our camping trip was soooooooo hot! This year, the kids only lasted about an hour in the lake before they were ready to go because it was kind of chilly - and definitely windy. Auntie and I did get all three kids to swim out to the swim raft with us and they all were so brave and jumped off. After three perfect jumps, Dec suddenly got the yips (and subsequently learned what "the yips" are ...) - but I managed to coax him in one last time. After the beach, we played some games, did some batting practice, ate dinner, stayed up late, and capped off the night with rainbow flames and s'mores.

The next morning, we ate breakfast at our favorite place - Gpa's deck. The kids ate bagels and fruit. Then Gpa gave them a donut for their second breakfast. Then they went and had scrambled eggs with Gma and Gpa for breakfast three. If you think that lunch was then a bust, you are wrong! Gma and Gpa J arrived shortly before lunch to day camp. Gma brought her famous potato salad and between lunch and dinner, she left with an empty bowl and we all had happy tummies!

After lunch, it was back to the beach. We were so hot at our site and looking forward to getting into the lake. Then, we got to the lake, the sun hid behind a cloud, and the wind picked up. We had fun - but everyone got cold pretty quickly. The kids did enjoy the wooden swing with Grandma while Auntie and I swam across the lake ... which was almost exactly the same size as the bay at the cabin (x3). Before we called it a day at the lake, Auntie and I took Q and D out in the paddleboat. They both desperately wanted to pedal - but weren't quite tall enough.

The big treat for everyone was Saturday's snack. The girls had taken a cupcake decorating class earlier in the week and we had two dozen exquisitely decorated cupcakes to share. They were a huge hit and all the grandparents were sufficiently impressed by their skills. And they should have been - the girls did a great job!

After snack, Dec asked Mike to take the training wheels off his new big bike. So Mike did. And the rest of the camping trip found Auntie, Mike, or me walking the loop with various bike riders as D practiced and practiced. And practiced. And practiced. He only hit one tree and a handful of people ... and now is quite proficient and will from now on be training wheel free (we hope)!

Between the late night before, the swimming, and all the bike riding, the kids were tired and asked to go to bed fairly early. I was happy to oblige. It was a pretty low key evening and we all turned in pretty early.

Sunday morning, the kids again enjoyed three breakfasts (swapping out eggs for oatmeal) and continued their bike riding adventures. At this point, Dec could pretty much do the loop himself and by the time we left, he had also mastered the downhill trek to the playground. This was just perfect as all the tall people were busy breaking camp. We were able to leave shortly before noon, got stuck in a bit of traffic, and were home by 3pm to start the showering and laundry cycle. We are already talking about where to go next year! Such a great tradition and the best memories for the kids.

Look at these beauties!