It ended up being a pretty good trip. Yes, there were moments of complete exhaustion (Jason and I) and there were frustrating moments, but for being our first camping trip I think it went well. Next year..... did I really say next year?..... we will do some things differently. Let's just call it a learning experience!
The first night: We didn't arrive until 8:30pm. At that point we just left the kids in the car watching a movie while we got to work on the tent. This ended up being a little harder than expected. We borrowed a very large tent from Jason's friend, Joe, so that we would have lots of room for us all to sleep. I was so thankful to have so much room in the end, but getting it together was a pain.
We start a fire and get our stuff set up. Before I know it the time is creeping closer to 11pm and Emerson will not go to bed. We tried a few times and she just kept jumping out of the pack n' play. So, I took her for a drive. Thank goodness for the guy who couldn't park his rv. We sat behind him for 20 minutes and during that time Emerson fell asleep. 1 down, 1 to go. Kaleb, of course, stayed awake in the tent until Jason and I came in, so he didn't go to sleep until 12 or later. Guess who was wide awake at 6:30 the next morning? My kids!
The following night was almost the same except Emerson did tell me around 10 pm "Night night" which meant she was ready! No fighting it on day 2! While at the campsite we played on their playground, took walks, went on the paddle boats and sat by the fire. Still, the kids were a little bored. Kaleb really wanted to fish so we promised him we would do it next year.
Here are the little monsters on night 1 refusing to sleep! The picture is blurry but I couldn't get a good shot in the tent.
Emerson was rearranging the chairs and so proud of herself. This is also the cleanest she was all day. She had a permanent black butt!
Kaleb goofing around.
The kids having a great time on the swings.
Jason saying "Is it Sunday yet?"
Jason and the kids looking over the water at about 7am!
On Saturday we spent much of the day at Michigan's Adventure. From 11am until 3pm we played mostly at the water park. It was nice but very crowded. It took until the last hour before we even found a place to sit. When we did find seats we were in direct sun and burning up! Kaleb had a blast. He went into the wave pool and spent most of the time in a kid area going down little slides and playing under the sprayers. Jason tried to take him down a big slide but he chickened out at the top and they had to walk all the way back down. I think Jason wanted to do more there but he didn't and regretted it later. Emerson liked the wave pool until she fell and scraped up her knee. Then she was so exhausted she fell asleep in the wagon (thank goodness!).
Next year we plan to either get there right at the water park opening time to snag some good seats under an umbrella or we will shell out $60 to rent a cabana for the day. I think it might be worth it!
We then went back to the tent were Kaleb and Jason took a nap. We made supper and ended up going back to the park at 8pm so we could do a few rides before it closed at 10. Kaleb and I went on the log ride. We tried to take Emerson but she was just an inch shy so her and Jason had to wait for us. Then Kaleb and Jason did bumper cars. We all went on the train and carousel and I got to go on their new roller coaster right before close! In the end we didn't do a lot at the park, and actually spent more time back at the tent, but like I said. This was a learning experience and we'll do a few things differently next year!
Here is Kaleb on the race cars before we went into the water park.
Emerson didn't like this one much. They stopped to let her off!
Jason and Kaleb in the wave pool.
Emerson asleep in the wagon. We had to find ways of hanging towels above her to block the sun.
Kaleb goofing around.
The kids having a great time on the swings.
Jason saying "Is it Sunday yet?"
Jason and the kids looking over the water at about 7am!
On Saturday we spent much of the day at Michigan's Adventure. From 11am until 3pm we played mostly at the water park. It was nice but very crowded. It took until the last hour before we even found a place to sit. When we did find seats we were in direct sun and burning up! Kaleb had a blast. He went into the wave pool and spent most of the time in a kid area going down little slides and playing under the sprayers. Jason tried to take him down a big slide but he chickened out at the top and they had to walk all the way back down. I think Jason wanted to do more there but he didn't and regretted it later. Emerson liked the wave pool until she fell and scraped up her knee. Then she was so exhausted she fell asleep in the wagon (thank goodness!).Next year we plan to either get there right at the water park opening time to snag some good seats under an umbrella or we will shell out $60 to rent a cabana for the day. I think it might be worth it!
We then went back to the tent were Kaleb and Jason took a nap. We made supper and ended up going back to the park at 8pm so we could do a few rides before it closed at 10. Kaleb and I went on the log ride. We tried to take Emerson but she was just an inch shy so her and Jason had to wait for us. Then Kaleb and Jason did bumper cars. We all went on the train and carousel and I got to go on their new roller coaster right before close! In the end we didn't do a lot at the park, and actually spent more time back at the tent, but like I said. This was a learning experience and we'll do a few things differently next year!
Here is Kaleb on the race cars before we went into the water park.
Emerson didn't like this one much. They stopped to let her off!
Jason and Kaleb in the wave pool.
Emerson asleep in the wagon. We had to find ways of hanging towels above her to block the sun.
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