Camping with Toddlers

We knew this summer would be our first summer to take Ava camping, and we decided to do it in style with two other two year olds in tow! We booked a camp site and met our friends the Wassons down by the river. One of the couples brought a pop up camper, that sleeps six. Our group included six adults, three two year olds and a full size dog. So just in case we brought our tent, and that's a good thing because Ava is just not ready for that kind of quiet before bed!

We let the kids play and get dirty, we played with glow sticks way too late, we found that the best toy for toddlers while camping is just an empty tent to run around in, Ava crashed and slept on the floor of our tent (!), got in the river and paddled around in boats all afternoon, we chased frogs and crawdads, we fried up fresh caught fish for dinner, served alongside an AMAZING grilled pork tenderloin, and finally we made a mad dash out of there during a crazy lightening and thunderstorm. At the end of the weekend, we all agreed that camping with toddlers is a heck of a lot more work, and that we couldn't wait to do it again! Such fun memories. :)

Doesn't Bennett just look ornery here?

Oh corn...the kids loved the corn.

See? And who says two year olds can't share? :)

Who knew this empty tent would provide probably 30 minutes of uninterrupted fun and giggles?

Cuteness.

Little Miss Chit Chat

I'm going to have the set the scene on these entries. Ava talks nonstop, and just like an adult these days...so you never know what you'll hear!

While up at the in-laws, the Schwans man arrives for an order/delivery. He is in the kitchen with Grandpa, Ava and I are in the living room coloring.

Ava: "Someone's with Gampa! Who is it?"
Me: "It's the Schwan's man."
Ava: "Oh I want to go see them." She gets up and heads that way, only to quickly return and loudly say "I don't like the Schwans man, he's yucky! I like you. But Gampa likes the Schwans man."
Me: "Ava, be quiet!"  -- opps.


A couple weeks ago, Ava was struggling with bedtime. So we started singing her a night-night song and saying a night-night prayer, while rubbing her back. It worked like a charm. Ava has QUICKLY picked up all the words to both the song and prayer and does them with us each night. Adorable, and smart!

Night-Night Song - from what Wynston remembers from an old Golden Book movie he watched as a kid:
Day is done, Little One
Close your eyes now sweet dreamer
Up above, is a light (actual lyric: Every star, is a light)
Watching over you tonight!

Night-Night Prayer - this prayer was in a needlepoint that hung in my bedroom as a child.
Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
May angels watch me through the night
And wake me with the morning light.
Amen.

Yep, she's a sweetie!

This Little Miss...

Is a master train builder.

Has the cutest curls in the world.

Has a million expressions.

 Is not to be messed with.



A Trip to the Fair

Last month we took Ava to the local fair, and met her friend Adalyn there. The night turned out rainy, but those girls still had a great time. It was full of toddler cuteness...including the girls holding hands and dancing in the rainy drizzle. :)

When Dad's In Charge

You get to stay up past bedtime and help build a fire!

 

Nacho Time

This momma LOVES Mexican food. Wynston not so much. Although I think I've clued him on to the goodness that is taquitos at El Charro. But I'm working on getting Ava onto the Mexican food bandwagon at an early age. :)

Cheese!!!!

Yep, those are garage sale stickers all over Little Miss. She was sooo good and quite while I made those nachos...and now we know why!

Little Miss Chit Chat

"It's a hickey nut!" - showing her grandparents some hickory nuts she'd collected from the yard.

"Sometimes I slip on bananas! Sometimes YOU slip on bananas too!" - said with a very enthusiastic nod

"I just need to go to the doctor and get the puke out" - stated during an especially stuffy week of allergies

"I need the daddy named Wynston" - requested while outside with just us three...no other daddies around.

:)