Yurting 2014

A few weeks ago {almost a month ago by now} we went camping for the first time ever with both kids. We went to Fort Stevens State Park and camped in a yurt. We went with five families, {friends from college and when we lived in Portland} they all had yurts too. We all have two kids so there was 10 kids four and under!

Growing up, we camped all the time. That was our vacation, we would go for a week or longer at a time and we camped all over Oregon, from the coast to Eastern Oregon. All my memories of camping as a kid were great, fun memories. When we camped with my grandparents, my grandma would help my cousins and I put together a little program for my mom, dad, aunts and uncles. We were called the camping cousins, {that's something that needs a post of its own} we had a blast. 

But, let me be honest, the days leading up to us leaving for our first yurting adventure, left me a little um... unsure. Camping is a. lot. of. work. period. All the gear, the packing, the food preping and so on. I had decide before we left that if once we got there it wasn't worth the work, then we'd wait a few years more before the kids got older and then maybe try again. 

But.... we had SO MUCH FUN!! And I honestly wasn't ready to come home! The kids loved it! Blake loved being outside all the time, able to ride is bike, play in the sand/dirt whenever he wanted, having campfires, being with friends we don't see that often, food always tastes better camping, sitting around the campfire once the kids were in bed playing crazy games and laughing while eating s'mores, scaring away {or possibly trying to trap} a {very over weight almost too friendly} squirrel who the kids named Cakey, going for bike rides, playing at the beach and getting soaking wet and covered in sand, it was all, so fun! 

Our little home away from home

 Three families had yurts in a row and two families had them across the street.

We made a meeting spot in the middle and ate together

 Lily loving a s'more

We checked out the old bunkers

 We went for a bike ride

 We played on the beach!

The kids

The whole gang!