Memorial Day Weekend

My oh, my. Welp, I survived. Two and a half days of camping at 8 months pregnant are now under my belt. It's hard to describe my feelings about the trip, because to be sure I was uncomfortable and a lot of the time I was frustrated, but I'm absolutely glad that we went.

As I've mentioned, both Tony and I grew up camping and it was very important to us to register for camping gear when we were planning our lives together ringing up items on our Target wedding registry. Oh how naive we were. Without a shadow of doubt, we knew that we would also bring our family camping. And while we may have poshed it a bit for our first camping adventure, it felt so great to just begin!

We didn't go very far, in fact only about 10 miles north, but we went to a campground on the lake that Levi and I basically grew up at. Fun fact for you all, my Dad used to own a sporting goods store and bait shop. On my Dad's weekends my brother and I would hang out at "the shop" and I actually enjoyed helping out by sorting wax worms, night crawlers and leeches for purchase! Bet you didn't see that one coming. So it was very nostalgic for Levi and I to get out on the lake and realize just how much time has passed since it was our very own play yard.

We got to the campground just as it was getting dark, but of course that did not deter Isaac from his desire to explore!


He thought that the pop-up tent trailer was pretty much amazing.


And loved the fact that he could unzip the windows to see and yell out at whoever was by the fire.


We ate a very late dinner, but really a pocket pizza sandwich is always worth the wait!


We've been talking up going camping and fishing for a few weeks now, so we were really hopeful Isaac would love it! He really did seem to get the hang of it the first evening, but was not too thrilled about actually sleeping in the tent trailer. He kept saying "Igiss go nanight at home." It took quite a bit of convincing for him to understand that that just wasn't in the works for the weekend!

The next morning though, he was up and ready to go, bright and early! And if you've ever been camping, you know how quiet the campgrounds are in the morning. We did our best to keep Isaac settled and muffled and finally the rest of the world joined us, awake.


Grandma brought blueberries, which ensured a happy boy!


And he got to spend almost every waking moment outside.


With his favorite people.


Knowing that we were fighting time with Isaac's nap looming ahead of us, Tony and I set out to find some bait to go fishing! It turned into almost an hour of driving around, which enabled Isaac to grab a few minutes of shut eye. He was so excited when we woke him up to put the boat in the water!


I mean soooo excited!


The only picture of me from the whole weekend, but I was just as excited as Isaac. I haven't bought a fishing license, which means I haven't gone fishing since I was younger than 16! Both Tony and I were psyched that our first time out together was also going to be Isaac's first venture out.


Isaac thought it was pretty sweet his Uncle Levi was in a boat too.


As we talked about going fishing, I just kept saying that I hoped we caught one fish. Just one, so that Isaac could tie together the concept of fishing. I'm sure he would have had just as much fun putting his pole in the water without any result, but you couldn't have touched the smile on my face when with the first cast off Isaac had a fish on his line!


I would have given anything to be standing on the water watching Isaac's face as he helped Tony pull his first fish over the side of the boat.


He seemed pleased as punch!


Tony even got him to kiss the fish, but I'm so glad I caught it the first time because there was no getting him to do it a 2nd!


He kept saying "Hi fishy."


We only caught three fish in the hour that we were out, two of them were Isaac's, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.


We caught just enough that he fell in love with fishing, even while brutally tired! He totally crashed when we got back.


Besides the food, playing outside and fishing, Isaac also loved playing "games" or ladder ball for the rest of us.


My husband makes really weird faces.


Isaac also thought it was great fun to put together these little glow sticks.


The next morning we had an amazing breakfast!


While everyone prepared the meal, Isaac decided to lick the canopy pole. And while telling him to stop, I of course, took a picture.


Back to the food!


Levi and Dusty working the grill.


We had: homemade buttermilk pancakes, hashbrowns, fried eggs, sausage, bacon, fresh berries, maple syrup and whipped cream. Pretty much amazing.


Brittany and Daniel helped us out with Isaac quite a bit! It definitely takes many people to keep a toddler safe and enclosed while camping.


Right across from our space was a little park and nearly every hour Isaac would ask to go down the slide. This time Uncle Levi joined him.


And now my brother hates me, but I crack up every time I look at this picture!


We only ended up staying until 9:30pm or so Sunday night, even though we'd planned to stay through Monday. My heartburn was pretty much out of control and I just needed to be home. Thankfully everyone was very understanding and all in all, we had an amazing first camping trip as a family!