Happy Trails! Part Two: Roughing It, Coleman Style

The intrepid Cerneka Family!

On Wednesday morning, we took our time at the hotel eating breakfast and getting packed up. We were able to check in early at the campground, as it was the middle of the week in the middle of September. We unloaded a few things out of the trunk to make room, and Shannon took off to pay for the campsite and get wood. Noah was asleep in the carseat and went along. Madeleine and I went to the play ground to play. On his way back, Shannon picked us up. As we pulled back up to our campsite, Shannon said, "Look!" There was a squirrel on top of our boxes on the table. I started to get my camera and point it out to Madeleine, then I noticed that the squirrel was eating something. And he was getting it out of the box he was standing on, Huggies box that had some of our food. ICK! We chased it away, and assessed the damage: a gnawed-on package of french bread, as well as a little of the box itself. We pitched the french bread and went about setting up camp. Madeleine was fascinated with the tent, and helped Shannon set it up. We cooked ribeye steaks, macaroni and cheese, potatoes, and asparagus on the campfire and had a nice dinner. The kids settled down fairly early, and we slept fairly well, considering we forgot that we needed an electric site to inflate our air mattress, and we chose a basic. However, it was right on the water and it was a pretty site, so we toughed it out. We got up, made breakfast burritos and took a couple walks around the campsite. We made smores, because Madeleine had fallen asleep before we had a chance to get them out the night before. After breakfast, she started asking, "We are going to make smores now?" and we figured what the hell. So we had smores for a mid-morning snack. Then we packed up camp and headed home. We love to camp, and we only wished we had more time to do it.
Our squirrel-ified french bread.
Madeleine helps set up the tent.
Shannon and Noah take a self-portrait.
Enjoying lunch after setting up camp.
The kids love those little camp chairs (and chocolate pudding!). Madeleine's is a Cardinals chair, a gift from Kelly for Christmas on year. Noah adores sitting in anything his size.
Our tent with our little girl. Once it was set up, she played in it all afternoon.
That's me cooking on the fire.
The kids asleep in the tent.
My fire! When we camp, the fire is my job.
One of Madeleine's favorite things to do is cook. She's helping me make breakfast here.
Madeleine and I roast a marshmellow.
Madeleine with smores face.
Noah tired smores for the first time.
he likes it!
Madeleine watches the lake.
The lake view from our campsite.