Backyard Adventures

Friday night we went camping. We didn't go far... just to my parents' backyard. My mom invited all of my siblings and their families over for a campout. She's really into emergency preparedness and was excited to try out all of the Dutch ovens, lanterns, tents, sleeping bags, and other things that she has bought "just in case". (Let me note that some of these items have been our Christmas presents over the past years, still unopened) I say she has only bought these things "just in case" of an emergency b/c my family does not camp. Ever. Seriously. In fact, I don't have the photo, but it was the most amusing one of the night. It was my brother and my dad, standing over my parents' unopened tent, trying to figure out how to put it up. Now, both of these men are extremely intelligent business men and avid readers, but you put a Coleman tent in front of them and they are in foreign territory. (I'll have to get that photo from you Lori... priceless) Nevertheless, we all enjoyed the night very much and I think it was a great success. Sorry I doubted you Mom!



The rest of us got our tents up while dinner was cooking in the Dutch ovens. I actually learned how to use a chimney or fire starter to heat up charcoals. That was a first for me! My own family does enjoy camping, but we stick to propane stoves. My mom found some great dutch oven recipes online that turned out to be really delicious. We made camp stew and cornbread, but unfortunately didn't get the Mississippi Mud Pie made this time. It sounds fabulous.



I wrestled the kids away from the TV while all of the setting up and cooking was happening. Imagine all 8 cousins, lined up in front of Nickelodeon, instead of playing outside on a beautiful evening, enjoying one another's company. I hope they forgive me - but I took the remote, pressed OFF, and herded them outside. It was great to see them running around, riding bikes and scooters, swinging on the playset, and learning how to play bocce (see Austin and Landon above).



Soon the food was ready and they all came for some grub. The cornbread exceeded all of our expectations. It was awesome (it may have helped that we coated the foil in the dutch oven with butter, a la Giada, our fav chef). The stew was very tasty which I attribute to the 2 packets of gravy mix the recipe calls for. Amy also brought our favorite spinach salad, and the kids had hot dogs and chips.



Mom bought a fire pit on special the other day, and it was perfect out in the yard. The kids loved roasting marshmallows and hot dogs. Later it provided a very cozy atmosphere and some heat on a late summer night.



The kids had so much fun sleeping inside of Jill and Randy's huge tent (I think it could sleep at least 10) but they didn't quiet down until about 10:30. The adults were still talking around the campfire. About that time, I settled Ashley down in my tent, which my mom and Lori were going to sleep in. I was sleeping inside, which I know sounds really lame, but I had to get up at 5am for a 20 mile run, so I wasn't about to risk sleeping outside on an air mattress. I needed real sleep. Thanks to my mom and Lori, and everyone else, who took care of Ashley and the other kids in the morning while I was gone. (Jared was away in California hiking with some buddies). It was so great to come back about 10:30 and find that my tent had been put away, sleeping bags, chairs, and everything else cleaned up.

See Jill's blog for more photos and her re-cap, which is more thorough than mine.