Sunday, July 22, 2012

Hey there, it's Yogi Bear!

I'm not sure if we are smarter than the average bear, but on Thursday, we loaded up the four kiddos and headed to Jellystone Warrens for some serious camping. Who other than the Lokkens would be crazy enough to camp with us?? It was a lot of work, but more importantly, a lot of fun!

Loading up! (PS. I will get rid of my minivan as soon as I can. But I must admit, there is no way we could have done it without stow and go!)


Setting up the tent and jumping on the air mattresses!

Our tent is 16x16. Yes, that's right. HEY, we have a big family! We were pretty nervous when we saw that they had elevated "pads" for the tent...but it JUST fit. Whew!

Everleigh settling in. She was really happy hanging out by the coolers, eating ice.


Our first dinner...

We forgot a few things. Thankfully, none of them were imperative for the trip. However, with the missing booster seat, this is how Everleigh ate...

As you can imagine, Paisley was in heaven hanging with her cousins 24-7. She even said to Makyah, " Kyah, do you and Cams want to live with me when we go to college? We can even share our swing sets?!" Makyah so kindly replied, "Well, I guess if you and Cams go to the same school as me." :)


Mini Golfing with Yogi, Boo Boo and Cindy!


Hudson did pretty well. He hit the ball more like a slap shot, rather than a little put...but he was proud of himself!

Madden didn't stay on course very much. Literally...he spent most of his time running on the bridge and giving me a heart attack. But how cute is he?!


Go Paisley!

It was our (and Lokkens) first time at this Jellystone. It was huge! And there was so much to do!
We played at the park, swam in the water park, swam in the man-made lake, played on the beach, went to the outdoor movie theatre, listened to music (and some kids singing karaoke, which was quite lovely. Ahem), went on a train ride, and of course all of the normal camping stuff like smores, glow in the dark silly string, and "sleeping" in the tent!















Paisley asked Craig to jump off of him. Sometimes she and I do this...she stands on my hands and I throw her up...a little...   Well, Craig didn't do it so little...



and in typical fashion, it ended like this...

But Madden and Cambree loved it!




Everleigh says SO many words. She pretty much repeats anything you ask her to. Here, she and Craig were saying "whoo whoo"



And guess who showed up for a train ride with us?!?! Grandma Bonnie! Grandma to the rescue! Bonnie offered to take Everleigh the whole time we camped, but I just couldn't do our first family camping trip without her. So, on the second day, Grandma came to get Everleigh. They went out for supper, took a bath and had some perfect quality one on one time. (well, one on two time...can't forget Grandpa!) It worked out really well. We got to do all the fun things with Everleigh, but she didn't have to sleep in the tent two nights, and I didn't have to get up with her 5 million times shushing her because everyone else was trying to sleep too for the second night. :) Thanks, Grandma Bonnie!
Heading to watch old Yogi cartoons

I asked everyone what their favorite part of the camping trip was. Craig said "being with the fam", Uncle Cal said "sitting around the campfire", Paisley said "everything", Hudson said "poo" hahaha, "pooL", I said "going down the water slides with Madden and Paisley", Makyah said "swimming", Aunt Melissa said, "sleeping",  Madden said "beach" "eat" "elmo bell" and Cambree said "playing with my bow and arrow."

Even though our "vacations" aren't far away, on a beach, or anything high-class, the three days of being together, laughing, getting completely messy and making memories to last a lifetime...is all that matters. Jellystone 2012 is in the books for us. Whew. We're home, sleeping in a bed and finishing up the 10th or 11th load of laundry.
Until next time, Yogi, Cindy and Boo Boo...

~Bergs, OUT.

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