"Family Reunite" 2012

I have a love/hate relationship with camping.  I love the way it brings people…especially families together.  There’s nothing pretentious about it.  My surroundings are stripped to the bare basics, as am I.  I’m stinky.  I’m ugly.  I’m dirty.  But so is the person I’m sitting next to.  There is some level of comfort in that.  Conversations aren’t focused on what we’re wearing or the errands I need to get done this afternoon.  Conversations are all about the “real” stuff.  “Real” stuff: like overhearing my daughters discuss what the heck a “buck snort” is.  Then listening to the muffled giggles under the sleeping bag when Dad explains it (Buck snorts are in the same category as “barking spiders” if you aren’t familiar).  I love the smell and sounds of the outdoors.  This week, I was reminded of all the camping I did as a girl just by the those senses we often take for granted…camp fire smoke, popping bacon, crunching pine needles, tents zipping and unzipping, birds chirping at 4 freaking AM (Yeah, thanks birds!  What ever happened to waiting for the sun to greet the morning?).  Most of all, camping reminds of family, and I love everything “family”. 

So after reading that, what is the “hate” part of this relationship??  I asked myself that question several times this week.  Basically, I came to the conclusion that it’s the lack of facilities.  I kinda sorta have an iddy biddy issue with sharing a toilet/shower/sink with 4726 (give or take a few) people (And by that I mean I cannot deal with toilet germs…call it a phobia if you will.  A couple of years ago, Anna picked up a urinal “cake” and came to ask me what it was.  Needless to say I came unglued and all but soaked her hands in pure bleach.  I’m a freak, and I totally own it.).  Most camp sites do not offer soap or paper towels nor do they have a janitor that cleans up a couple times a day (They have plenty of helpers to come monitor the exact distance of your tent to the fire pit.  We had to move our tent FIVE feet because they “are trying to save what little vegetation they have”.  I’m like, “Ranger Buddy.  Your time would be much better spent of you went and sani wiped that bathroom.  I’m pretty sure I noticed a spec of poop on the third stall door handle.  My overly active poop germ senses were going nuts in there.  I’ll move my tent and you go sweep the bathroom.  Deal?”)  Don’t even get me started on that brittle one-ply toilet paper.  Seriously?!  I pull out half the industrial size roll, and it’s disintegrating as it comes into contact with my dirty, chapped fingers!  Then I have the three littles that I have to look after too.  It seems as though I visit that bathroom 100 times a day.  One might suggest letting them go to the restroom alone since they are technically old enough to handle that business without my assistance.  Here’s a little look into my OOC (out of control) world…I just can’t do it.  Period.  End of story.  Ok, so getting back to the answer to my question.  What could take the “hate” out of this relationship?  The answer: a hotel.  HAHAHA!  It’s just such a simple solution.

Of course, I’m kidding about the hotel (kinda).  As I look back on my childhood, I’m so glad my parents took the time to take us camping.  I complained incessantly about this activity as a teenager.  Gracious, I was annoying.  BUT I can finally say I’m so thankful for those memories.  Memories and bonding that can only happen in the great outdoors.  Here’s a little look at our vacation.     

 Stopping in Eureka for gas.  Across the street there were these awesome old buildings just begging to be photographed.  The day was perfectly overcast.  Thankfully, I had two willing participants.  Raychel said she would gladly wait in the car.

 Instead of driving the entire 12 hours in one day, we stayed overnight in this cute little town.  I fell in love with this darling little house.

 The next day, we got up and traveled to our destination.  These morbid cowboys were sitting outside of a souvenir shop.  The girls didn't believe they were fake until they touched them.  I love how cautious they are.

 No stop at a souvenir shop is complete without purchasing a handful of overpriced pretty rocks.  Funny story: As we were in this shop, James was lurking over the girls to make sure they weren't going to touch what they shouldn't.  In the meantime, he backed into a shelf knocking over a display of expensive rocks.  HAHAHA!!  

 We stopped by a petting zoo to feed some cute little animals.  Anna and Raychel loved it.

 Leah couldn't wait to leave.

 Camping!!  They pushed these strollers around the campground the entire time.  Great entertainment!  Leah's face is cracking me up.  That kid is a ham!

 Hurley

 The wounds of climbing trees.

 We went on a hike everyday while we were in Bryce Canyon.  The red rock, green trees, and blue skies were breathtaking.

 Those two spots on this picture are my nephews.  What would it be like to have no fear?

 Raychel was begging us to let her go up there with the boys.  Yeah, no.

 Token tourist shot.  

 Raychel's first s'more.  

 "I'll have a s'more...hold the marshmallow and graham cracker, please."

 Anna and Jordan

 Father's Day hike.  This hike was a little over 4 miles long.  The girls did fantastic!!  No complaining whatsoever.  They all said this hike was the highlight of the whole experience.  With views like this, who can argue??

 My girl FINALLY gets to "rock climb".

 "I need solitude.  I have come forth to this hill...to see the forms of the mountains on the horizon-to behold and commune with something grander than man."

Henry David Thoreau

 "Look, Mom!  A tiny hole!"

 A tree you can stick your head through.

 Hiking cuties

 A rodent...I mean "cute lil 'chickmunk'".

 Raychel leaving her mark.

 This pose and picture was all Leah's idea.  

 Look how high...

 Look how low...

 By this point in the hike, everyone was getting tired.  James gave the girls a pep talk by telling them an ice cold Diet Coke was in the car for them.  He said, "See, when it gets really hard, you just have to remember and think about what's waiting for you."  A good lesson for life in general.  

 I'm telling you, this child has a flare for the dramatic.  "GIMME DIET COKE!"

 Again, Leah.  Sad to be in jail.  I guess the other two like to be in jail.

 Flippin' pancakes with Daddy.

 (Anna)

 This was a more mellow hike.  By this time, poor Raychel's allergies were acting up so bad, she could barely breathe.  They all wanted to go on another long hike, but Raychel just wasn't going to enjoy it.

 Anna's "so excited" face.

 "Don't get too close!"

 Roylance tradition always calls for a pinata at all reunions.  Anna killed it.

 Anna was crying just seconds earlier.  The wind was so bad this night.  It picked up her plate of spaghetti and smeared it all over her face and hair.  Thank goodness for sisters that make you laugh!

 All of us...almost.  I love how James' family make these reunions a priority...or as Leah calls it "family reunite".  It's so great to be able to reconnect with everyone.  The girls were amazed by the amount of cousins they have on Dad's side!

 One must always have a s'more and headlamp while camping.

 Leah had been coloring like this for over an hour.

 Love my robins

 Trudy started a fun tradition this year.  Each child had the opportunity to read their favorite story each night by the camp fire.  Anna read "Does A Kangaroo Have a Mother Too?"  Raychel read "What Dad's Can't Do" on Father's day.  The last two pages of the story read, "But Dads can't give up.  No matter how tired he gets or how hard life gets.  A Dad never quits.  And most of all, whatever happens, a Dad never ever stops loving you."  Raychel got very emotional, and it was honestly one of the most tender moments of my life.  No one by the campfire had a dry eye. 

 Pooped

 Since we were so close, we decided to stop at Lehman caves.  I fondly remember coming here with my Dad when I was Raychel's age (My mom and Amanda were there too, but Amanda didn't make it past the tunnel.  She wasn't too excited about a dark, smelly cave).  I knew the girls would love it too.

 Anna spotting a Mountain Lion...

 Leah calling BS on her discovery.

 Raychel discovering a bird nest.  I love the look of wonder in her eyes.

 Getting a prize from Ranger Cindy

Cave Cadet Cuties