Camping with EG

What happens when you put an Evil Genius in the woods? Mayhem will surely ensue. We might burn down a state park - you never know exactly what is going to happen, but there will be tears.  Last weekend was the annual camping trip for EG's Indian Princess tribe. Last year was her first time camping with the tribe, and she had a blast.  However, after getting stung by a bee a few months ago, she's been pretty shy around nature.

That's putting it mildly. She's terrified to go outside at all now. So the thought of sleeping outside was out of the question.  We had to bring the veggies for Saturday night's dinner, and she negotiated it down to only 2 hours of being at the campsite on Saturday. We're trying this new "guilt" thing now that she's old enough to understand reasoning. So that meant I was going to hold her to the deal that she had set.  We got there and I didn't setup the tent or anything. We just unpacked the food and started having fun.

She grocery shops in footy pajamas and giant sunglasses

Fanning the flames off camping fun

hanging with my little girl

After the campfire got rolling, we started cooking.  I make up potatoes, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, and hot peppers in foil packets, and there had to be enough to feed 20 people. Took a lot of time over that campfire, but soon enough they were stacking burgers and dogs on there too.  Everybody had enough to eat and I think it all turned out great! Soon enough it was dark and we were making s'mores.  I think EG liked roasting the marshmallows more than eating them.

Of course, after s'mores it was time for us to head back home.  And once she got out playing with her friends and having fun by the campfire, she didn't want to go home! Imagine that. But we had a deal and she had to stick with what we had agreed to, so she cried the whole way home. :(

Sunday morning led to more guilt. With the EG, we tell her to do something, she says no, it ends in crying and sometimes that gets her out of it sometimes she cries during it. Apparently with this whole guilt thing when she chose to take 2 hours to brush her teeth and eat breakfast, it still led to crying. This time it was because we got back to the campsite just as everyone else was packing up. Fortunately a few people were still going to the local beach, so we got in on that action even though we missed building and decorating the torches for the Fall Outing in a few weeks.

Seriously, everything you can ever do with that child ends in crying.  it's like having a 7 year old newborn.

We did not bring a change of clothes.  didn't anticipate the beach.

I think I know where this is heading

yep, there it is.

The lifejackets really helped her feel more safe

Overall there wasn't much actual camping. But there was a lot of fun. We had a good time getting together with everyone and spending some time in nature. I got to tell a few ironman stories and some yoga preaching. EG got to