"Roughing" It

My niece Vanessa has been visiting from Georgia for two weeks. Since she hasn't been camping much, and since Dad had a meeting in Silverton, we decided to take a family camping trip last weekend. Mom & Dad rented a space at an RV park, and headed up Friday afternoon with Vanessa and Katrina. We were followed after work with the little ones, pitch our tent next to their camper and sleep on our air mattresses. Sounded great!

Well, Friday morning arrived with thunderstorms and rain. Mom called the RV park and found out it was "really" cold up there. And then she panicked. She could not bear the thought of her precious grandbabies sleeping in tent, freezing their little toes off, and getting sick (her words, exactly). So, they rented us a cabin at the same park. I was thinking - ok, that's pretty cool. We'll have two beds - I'll take the sleeping bags to sleep in. I was so wrong.

Our cabin was awesome!!! It had a mini-kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave, stove top, coffee maker, and dishwasher. Also in the main room was a queen-size bed with sheets, a dining table, and (gasp) cable TV. Jerome was in heaven. I was in shock. THIS IS NOT CAMPING! THIS WAS LIKE A MOTEL!

There was a second room with another full size bed and plenty of room for Violet's playpen.

And, in the bathroom (yes, there was a private bathroom) there was....

Yes!!! A shower! AGAIN, SO NOT CAMPING! Not that I was complaining, mind you. I have no problem admitting that Mom & Dad were right, and that it was stinking cold at night and that we would have frozen our royal hineys off. I am so grateful that we got this wonderful gift. So, while Vanessa

and Katrina

slept in the camper

with Grandma and Grandpa (which has its own stove, oven, microwave, refrigerator, freezer, sink, stereo system, full bathroom, and flat-screen TV with DVD player), Madison & Violet

slept in the cabin with us. It was really fun to hear the two little ones giggling and "talking" at night after we had tucked them in. Some of my favorite childhood memories involve trips like this, and it was great to see my daughters starting some of those memories of their own.

The next morning we had a wonderful pancake

and raspberry

feast before heading to Ouray for the day.

When we got "home", Dad was a little tired (he always looks this way when a camera is pointed at him)

and a sweet neighborhood dog decided that three little girls means lots of free food. He got his fill of steak (again, really roughing it) and marshmallows then slept under the picnic table.

After dinner we introduced the girls to the miracles of s'mores. Vanessa doesn't remember anything from living in Colorado, so of course she did not remember eating s'mores. Her little cousin had to show her how it was done.

Madison immediately knew what to do, and enjoyed every minute. She even shared a little with Dad.

Violet had never had a roasted marshmallow. She was a little hesitant at first

but, true to Bleger girl fashion, soon realized that SUGAR IS GOOD!

It was so wonderful to get away for a few days, not have to have the cell phones nearby, and just relax with the kids. We have been so busy lately that we don't get much family time. What a treasure to make some memories with our babies before they're not babies anymore.