Rollin' and Campin'!

He's on the move! A couple of days ago the five of us watched eagerly as Aaron, with a great amount of effort, rolled from back to tummy! We all cheered for him and it was so cute to see him look up with a surprised look at first and then a big grin! I often call our boy "Happiness and Joy" - he is precious and his big smiles light a room.

Well! We made it through the camping excursion! Someone told me later I was brave for going. After a day Rhonda realized that camping = dirt, and that's the way it is! The last time we camped was in a tent when Nathan was one, and I had not remembered how much dirt there was!

And my question for you: Is it really camping when you can use your wireless internet from inside the pop-up camper? We could connect to the ranger station from our site on our laptop. We really didn't use it much - I promise! :) My brother, who enjoys rustic campgrounds with his young children (i.e. porta potties, no showers) called me a "Pampered Princess." I call him crazy.

I will share with you the email exchange my good friend, Melanie (mother of five) had:
Melanie: (written as I was preparing to go) "Did you know I went camping last spring and vowed not to do it again until Jacob is five years old? Think of it as working towards many wonderful happy memories for your children."

Rhonda: (written after we'd been camping for half a day) "Ken said this morning, “You let me know when it’s the part of camping that you like, ok?” We’re at the campground – I had FORGOTTEN how much mud/dirt there is – ewww! But I’m not going to stress out about it…I decided that I didn’t want my kids to remember camping as “mom stressed about the dirt."

And now a current update from me: "We had a great time and all enjoyed ourselves very much - from fun Jellystone activities for the kids to the awesome dune rides to reading a book to just being together." Will I go camping again? Happily - but I don't think tents and our family would get along. The pop-up was great, and I think we're going to head out again in August.

Highlights:
Robyn saying the day we got back, "Can we go camping again sometime?"
Seth's prayer the first day: "Thank you, God, for this happy day. I like camping!"
Tie-dying t-shirts with the kids. I'll have to get a picture of them for you.
The kiddie pool and big pool at the campground! All 3 do well on their own in the water - Nathan with no noodle, Robyn with one noodle, Seth with two noodles.
Finding a cove where Silver Lake meets Lake Michigan. The tidal basin had shallow water that we all played in.
NO Schedule! (well, except for being aware of what time it was so the kids could hit the various kids' activities!)
Watching Nathan ride all over on his bike (two wheels only)
Reading aloud Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux each day to the kids.
From Ken - sitting and reading The Hobbit
Eating sticky s'mores by the campfire - mmm!
The gorgeous mixture of azure sky, sugar sand dunes, Lake MI views, and going up, down, and all around the sand dunes with our fun driver, "Weazy," on the Dune Rides.
Driving through beautiful Pentwater, with its picturesque boats and calm waters, on the way home.
Eating a tasty meal at Bob Evans on the way home. I sure like their food - especially after eating campground food for a week!

Will post pics soon.