South Beach Camping Trip Day Four

Wow, I was really impressed with how quickly the pack-up/clean-up process went.  It must be due to all of the friends to play with at our campsites.  For the most part, the boys played with the other kiddos while we packed and cleaned and didn't try to "help" as much as they did last summer, which made for a much easier time of it. 

We just hung out at the campground on the last day, enjoying our last outdoor breakfast, with the kids riding bikes, playing on the playground, and enjoying the yurts and tents on our last morning.  Everyone seemed to have a great time with only a couple of meltdowns.  The children all enjoyed each other's company and didn't cry or get upset when it was time to leave either!  What a fantastic trip!

South Beach Camping Trip Day Three

On the third day of camping . . . most of us hung out at the campground, then took a bike ride/hike to the beach for a fun, yet VERY windy experience.  Poor Merrick lost his new ball as it flew down the dune line.  Six of the kids chased after it, which led Brian to running after them, and Max and Ed going down the coastline to check things out when we could no longer see any of the kids or Brian.  The ball was long gone, likely entertaining many beach goers as it passed by them, and eventually all six children and the dads made their way back to us.  You'd think they would be wiped out by the miles of running and walking, but the kiddos hit the dune as soon as they made it back.

Back to the campground for more playtime, bike riding, light saber fighting, then group dinner #2- foil dinners (a camping tradition) and s'mores, evening movie showing for the kiddos in the Kolaric tent while the parents enjoyed some quiet time and bananas foster made by Ryan.  :)

South Beach Camping Trip Day Two

Day Two was a full day for all of us!  We all took off to the aquarium, arriving at different times, then to the beach we all went, where there was kite flying, football playing, sand digging, wave jumping (the water was surprisingly warm!), and dune climbing, then back to our site for our first group dinner (YUM!) and roasting marshmallows.

South Beach Camping Trip Day One

 

 

Day One was spent driving to the coast.  We picked the boys up from Kid Fest VBS with lunch, then stopped off in Tillamook for an ice cream treat.  A quick stop at a view point, then down to our final destination, arriving at the exact same time as two of our fellow yurting families.

The kiddos all played at the playground while we set up camp and started our battle with the local campground critters.  A raccoon got into our cooler right away and this squirrel took some graham cracker from our table.  It made a big commotion at the Rodriguez yurt just as we were all falling asleep that night, then squirrels seemed to gravitate toward the Bennett's yurt on the second evening of food prep.  They left us alone for the most part to partake in other campers' goodies for the remainder of the weekend, although we did have crows nipping away at our table leftovers early every morning.

With six families, I thought keeping track of the kiddos might be tough, but it was great having so many parents around to keep an eye on all the little ones and yell, "Car!" every now and then.  Such a fun weekend with delicious food, sunny (and a bit windy) beach trips, playground mischief, lots of bike riding, aquarium touring, and fabulous friends!  There was already talk over next summer's big group camping trip before we left the campground.  :)  Thanks for the fun memories, everyone!

Preschool Pajama Party!