Camping with the O'Hara's April 18th-20th

Friday's pictures
Friday started out early, with Bill having to call into to work with another headache....actually the same headache, so the kids & I finished up the tasks to get ready to go while he rested. We left home around 1:00, met up with Tracey and arrived at camp at 1:20!! Tough commute! We were able to set up camp before the rain hit, and Bill, even with his head hurting was able to help me get up the tarp before he headed in to lay down. Tracey ran back to town to get the other kids & Sean, who ended up having a pretty tough day of hauling cement. This was Tanya's first camping trip ever--Alyona had camped in Ukraine, so she was familiar with the outdoors and campfires, but to Tanya, this was all new. She loved the marshmallows over the fire--and of course ROASTED (AKA Burned!) her first one!!




Tracey & Sean's Pictures
We all had supper together, simple first night fare....hot dogs, chips, fruit, and of course dessert was marshmallows! We enjoyed a nice fire, some great conversation, some laughs, and we learned, how much a yard of concrete weighs....I don't recall the exact amount, but you can check out the O'Hara blog, and I'm sure it will be posted in the near future! (We love you Sean!) We headed to bed, two O'Hara girls with us (Tanya & Alyona), and the rest to their own trailer. Until some modifications can be made, the O'Hara's can only sleep 5 comfortably...so we'll just have to continue camping together!


Saturday's Pictures
Saturday we woke to a light dusting of snow....it was pretty. The kids ran off to the new play area to have some fun, and while they were there the hail started....and then quickly changed to snow. It was beautiful big flakes. The kids had SO much fun catching flakes, scraping together snowballs, and just enjoying playing together. After awhile the sun came out, and I took the kids for a walk to the river. They had so much fun playing in the river making a dam like they did in this same camp last fall...only we were short two girls!! The spot they made the dam in was covered with water, so they built farther in to shore. Needless to say, everyone was wet, which created a trip to Sweet Home & Sodaville for more wood and more clothes for the O'Hara kids. Thankfully, between the drive, the loading of wood, and the packing, we were only gone an hour and fifteen minutes!!

When we returned, we had pizza pies over the fire. It has been years since we've made these, and they tasted so good! I think we need to figure out who we loaned our other pie maker to, or invest in a new one, since this was a big hit..and it took a long time to feed 11 people with 2 pie makes (and one was a short handled one!)

We enjoyed a great afternoon of adult conversation and visiting while the kids played together. The guys managed a nap....Sean on the couch....and Bill in bed earlier. Tracey & I just sat at the table and visited...it was great! It got pretty chilly in the afternoon so we allowed some movie time. Two girls watched a girly movie in the kids bedroom, and the other five piled on our bed to watch a different movie. Poor Bill was still suffering of a migraine, and didn't do much today.

We started supper, and had a great meal of chili & cornbread, followed by cobbler, with berries that Tracey had picked...and ice cream that the kids made with the ice cream balls. It was great!! A nice addition to an already great cobbler tradition. (Papa Cyril...we're counting on you to try some with us!--We remember how much you enjoyed it last fall!)

We had another great night together, and everyone headed to bed about 11. It has been hailing/snowing for a good part of tonight.....thankfully, the tarp did stay up!!




Sunday, we woke to more snow...it was beautiful out the bedroom window....trees with snow. The loop we camp on only has 4 sites, so it's almost like having a park to yourself. By the time I dressed and took the dogs for a walk, a lot of snow had melted, but we had a great fire this morning, cleaned our chili & cobbler pots, as well as cooked an awesome breakfast with sausage, bacon, onion, red pepper, potatoes, and eggs....it was great!! We need to name it! Fresh fruit accompanied, but was eaten well before breakfast/brunch was served!






We enjoyed some beautiful sunshine before we had to tear down and head home. Everyone was shedding coats, going for walks, and basking in the rays....until 20 minutes later, when it was hailing again.



We left camp, knowing it was the first of many fun times of camping with the O'Hara's.....everyone loved it, and what a better way to enjoy your kids and your family??!! We broke camp at 2:20 and arrived home at 2:40--tough drive home, no traffic!! Watch for more pictures soon...as I will post Tracey's soon as well.