Yosemite Camping

This past weekend we headed up to Yosemite with our homies (home group). We had over 30 peeps join us. Half being kids. We had 4 campsites together and spent the evenings around the campfire and then spread out during the days to do whatever each family felt like doing. Everyone had a wonderful time. There's something special about being outdoors in the dirt, sun, and rain surrounded by beautiful mountains and fabulous friends that makes it worth the effort of packing everything (but the kitchen sink) from our perfectly good home, driving 5 hours, and then setting it all up again in a little nylon tent for a weekend. Look at the smiles on these faces. The kids loved being together. The first night we didn't get much sleep because Tori was too excited and wanted to be with her friends. She actually told me around 3am that the night was, "taking to long." Siah was awake all night because we bundled him up too much and he was melting. Poor guy, we didn't want him to freeze.

At the campsites the kids rode bikes and played endless games. Tori packed the bunny ears and told me, "my friends will laugh and laugh when I put them on." Funny girl!

Campfire time is always a favorite for me. Smores and fun conversation while staring into the fire. Here's the Slagg family enjoying "banana slugs". You're gonna want to know how to do this- Slice the bananas down the middle with the skins still on. Smash chocolate peanut butter cups inside. Wrap them in tinfoil and roast. Enjoy with a spoon. Thanks Schwartz family for introducing this yummy camping treat.

The bedtime routine. Books read by headlamps. They love camping and fall asleep pretty easily in the tent. Yes, that is a pack-n-play inside the tent.

Our crew after most of the kids were in bed.

One of the days we hiked down to the river and enjoyed some quality rock throwing.

Then we visited the horses and rode the bus (Tori's favorite).

Here's most of our group. (2 families were hiking)

This boy knows how to get dirty. I've found overalls are the best for camping. I'm not joking when I say he was actually swimming in dirt. It looked like the breast stroke. I wish I was quick enough with the camera but you'll just have to imagine. I was able to capture this picture though. He was thoroughly enjoying his ice cream cone and cheese. I referred to him as my "candy coated bear treat." (Apparently the bears where sniffing around our campsite early one morning. However, I was blissfully unaware. It would have been so embarrassing to pee myself.)

Happy little camper. Here's a smile that keeps creeping into our pictures lately.

I like this picture of the family. Hopefully it shows what kind of family we are cause this is the one I sent to the adoption agency. The scarf on my head was because it was day 3 of no shower (ewwww). That's nothing if you compare it to the time we spent adventuring in New Zealand. Our clothes could walk by themselves by the time we were done.

We wore him out!

This was our second trip and won't be our last. Beautiful place with beautiful friends. Love it!