Refer to #7 in my previous post

Well, we went anyway. The thrill of buying a new, big tent (despite the lack of tiny tent models) and the thought of real-fire (not gas range) smores sucked me in. Camping is BIG here in the Northwest. Like, make-your-reservations-weeks-in-advance big. Which, apparently, I was unaware of.

J and I threw it onto the calendar, to up the chances of it actually happening, and before we knew it, our "Family Camping Trip" weekend was upon us. So, I hauled all three kids to Walmart with me to pick out an 8 man tent (no foreshadowing of things to come, just needed room for 2 airbeds and a pack and play). Then I dragged them to the grocery store to pick out camping food. Beef stew and rolls for dinner, and then more unhealthy treats that you can possibly imagine me buying.

We are normally a very healthy family. But when it comes to camping (and since we camp about once every other year), J likes his treats, and it's kind of fun to spoil the kids (as well as their appetites, their teeth, their pancreas...). I am still me, though, so all the Oreos, Pringles, cookies, licorice, beef jerky, and chips were 'reduced fat'. I was so embarassed by the indulgences that I felt compelled to explain myself to the cashier.

"So, we don't normally eat this unhealthy..," I mumbled to the cashier. "We're...camping..." I kind of shook my head to explain away the gluttony of high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated soybean oil. (J pointed out later that, since the cashier was a 16 year old boy, he probably thought I was a health nut, buying everything 'reduced fat.')

Then came the matter of securing a campsite. At first glance it didn't look remotely possible. Fortunately, the camping gods smiled upon us, and we found a spot at one of the several church-owned campgrounds around here.

"Hello. Thanks for calling Cascade Park."

"Hi! Um, I...want to go camping there. How do I do that?" (very eloquent)

"Okay, when did you want to camp?"

"In, say, two hours?"

(Laughter on the other end).

"Okay, how many people?"

"Two adults, three kids." (Do I really have three kids???)

"Sure, we'll find a spot for you."

---And now, I'm looking at the length of this post, and I'll continue with the actual camping another day....Stay tuned.