First Annual Creach Camping Trip

For the last couple of years, Erick and I have toyed with the idea of what it might mean to be outdoor people. We love hiking, campfires, adventuring outdoors. We do not love camping. 

As a matter of fact, Sophia has never once been camping. Because of adult ambivalence, she has developed a real aversion. In order to get her to agree to go camping, I had to make it my Mother's Day gift. So, sure enough, we went camping this weekend!

Here is Sophia with our lovely tent. Spacious. EASY to put up.

We stayed at the campground at Graham Cave State Park. It was raining here in St. Louis, but it held off for us at the campground all weekend. Once we set up the tent, we headed out for a quick hike in the woods. All the recent rain has made for practically a rainforest feel. It was so lovely.

Here's our campsite all set up. Sophia and Leo are in the tent. You can see Sophia's face in the window. The hammock got lots of use, and fortunately Sophia did not hurt herself.

Also, I have a new phone that has a portrait setting. So, there is this.

And this, both by firelight. We went through four things of wood in our one-night camp.

The campfire and the relaxing always make me love camping. The sleeping on the ground and waking up to the loud and insistent birds always makes me hate it. This was me in the morning before Erick made us breakfast over the fire with his camp knife and a cast iron skillet. Impressive guy, that Erick. The breakfast helped me feel less disheveled, though I doubt it aided my appearance any.

Like I said, the hammock got lots of use.

In summary, Leo and Sophia are complete and total city creatures. Leo did not have any fun at all. Sophia had fun but got very bored and cold at night. Erick and I had fun and feel like we accomplished something. We hadn't tried camping in so long that we couldn't be sure of our feelings for it. Our feelings are as follows: we can hike, have fires, play in creeks, picnic and play while still returning to an indoor sleeping arrangement, particularly when Sophia and Leo are involved. On weekends when it's just the two of us, camping can come back into the entertainment rotation.

Girl Scout Camping Trip

Friday evening, Sophia and I had an adventure with her friends and mine, since many of them overlap with the Girl Scout troop that she joined this year.

These particular moms, myself included, are not necessarily fans of roughing it. So, when the girls insisted on taking a camping trip this year, we compromised with an overnight stay at Shaw Nature Reserve, basically at a retreat center. A huge cabin is where we spent the night, and a lovely community building is where we our (two) meals.

Regardless, the girls had a lovely time. None of them had expectations of a tent, so that's a relief. All they wanted was some uninterrupted play time and s'mores. These things they got.

I snapped this picture before they shot off into all different directions, and they look so sweet!

After completing some nature activities that kept them busy until the pizza came. Yes, we ordered pizza. We had dinner and started the all-important fire. 

S'mores and storytelling rounded out the fire pit time, followed by a quick game of Ghost in the Graveyard - a stylized version of pitch black tag.

Then I tucked Sophia into her bunk, which I ended up having to climb into to help her to sleep about an hour or two later - after my own drama with a mouse. I'll save that for another time.

Anyway, some sleep was had, though not much. Then the girls got to work on our breakfast in this very rustic kitchen...

All to be topped off with a hike through nature being recorded by my little filmmaker.

It was a very fun time, and it really made me appreciate those moments with Sophia and our friends. No distractions, just each other and nature. It was a great way to kick off Mother's Day weekend for us. I love getting to share these experiences with her. I might even be willing to try a tent next time.