Camping!

Last Saterday we decided to take a spontaneous camping trip. Brad's mom had planned a weekend camping trip near twin falls and through some miscommunication between Brad and I were not planning on going until it came up late Friday night and we decided there was no reason we couldn't go. We made it to the camp ground around 3:30 Saturday and surprised everyone with our arrival. It was kind of fun to surprise them and be spontaneous. We had a blast just hanging out with everyone, eating yummy food, playing Frisbee and getting dirty.

Grandma and Alex on the ATV. Grandpa Mike took Ayden for a ride too but we forgot to get the camera out. They LOVED it. Ayden has been asking if Mike could take her for a ride since the last time we were in Burley so when she saw they brought it camping she was really excited for a ride. Grandma said Alex kept saying "faster, faster".

I think this picture of Brad and Alex is so cute.

Making vegetable tin foil dinners to go along with the dutch oven ham, potatoes and peach cobbler Marsha and Mike made. I love camping food!

Ayden and her cousin Caleb "fishing." And making funny faces.

Catching a Frisbee.

River enjoyed camping but was sad to be hooked to a rope the whole time. If he would just learn to not run away his life could be little more exciting. Apparently after we left a little bird hopped around the area where river slept and excitedly collected a bunch of hair for her nest. It is good to know they come to good use somewhere because they certainly don't in my carpet!

Me, Ayden, Alex, Emily and Caleb hanging out by the fire.

This is most of the group that was there minus some kiddos.
back row from the left: Brads Cousins Jolie, Linsey, Robbie, Aunt Rita, Sister Lorrie, Bro-in law Dana, Brad and I, Caleb, bro-in law Jeremiah, sister Emily
front row from the left: Brads Grandpa and Grandma Merrill, Brads Mom Marsha and Step Dad Mike holding Ayden and Alex.

Alex and her Uncle Dana.

Alex and River

This was our sleeping arrangement for the night.
It was FREEZING at night and the only way to keep everyone warm was to cuddle in two sleeping bags zippered together. Between wiggly kids, being freezing and having to pee most of the night but too cold to get up I barely slept. It was also really hard to get the girls to fall asleep like this. I eventually had to put Alex in her porta-crib and tried to cover her up really well but about an hour later she woke up crying and when I went to get her she was curled up in a ball with no blankets and she felt like an icicle. I cuddled her and warmed her up and then she fell back asleep with me for the rest of the night. I think we were the last ones to fall asleep and the first ones awake. Needless to say it was kind of a rough night and we are going to have to come up with something else if I am going to do this again.
We woke up and had a great breakfast of breakfast burritos and then headed home for the last part of church. We were so glad we went up and it was a blast to hang out with the family. Thanks for planning it Marsha!