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!

Camping!

About a month ago we met my parents at Bullards Beach State Park on the Southern Oregon Coast. The days leading up to going camping I was constantly checking the weather. It was end of June so one would think the weather would be nice no problem... well not so much in Oregon. The forecast was calling for a wet cold rainy weekend {across pretty much the WHOLE state}. We debated back and forth wether to just tough it out and go, or if it was really worth it to tent camp in the rain {with a two-year-old and being 27 weeks pregnant}. My parents have a trailer and had made reservations so they were going rain or shine.

Friday rolled around and we woke up to grey cloudy skies at home. We made the decision to just go for it. {yes, I'm sure we are crazy} We figured if Friday night was miserable we'd come home Saturday. On our way there it was ugly. It poured and poured some more on us. As we got closer to the campground {and farther away from our dry, warm comfy beds} I kept thinking, "what are we thinking?!" We arrived to the camp ground and of course it was raining. My dad and Russ set up our tent underneath a canopy {which was a lifesaver}. We hung out in the dry trailer that night. When we went to bed I prayed and prayed that we'd sleep through the night and wake up dry. And thankfully we did! Saturday morning we were up by 5:30am and it wasn't because we were soaking wet. The rain had stopped during the night and didn't return the rest of the weekend. We ended up have a great time with some pretty blue skies as well.

Our little humble abode for the weekend. The lines that look like streaks on the picture is actually the rain pouring off of the canopy from the trailer.

Friday night trike ride in the rain.

 Saturday we spent the afternoon exploring Old Town Bandon {notice the blue skies!!?}

If you ever go to Bandon you must go to Crandberry Sweets & More. They have samples of almost every type of candy they sell. {It's kind of like Costco in way of samples, but candy}

Our camping site.

 Playing on the beach!

 Helping dad build a sandcastle.

 Quick picture with the sandcastle.

 Destroying the sandcastle.

 Conquering the sandcastle. 

 Our little family.

 Papa Mike and Papa Lori {yes, he calls his Grandma, Papa... He will not say Grandma}

 Here I am at 27 weeks!

Sitting by the campfire. 

And he's out. 

The second night I opted to sleep in the trailer. I thought it would be more comfortable for all of us. Well, Blake moves a lot in his sleep and kept falling off the side of the air mattress which woke both him and Russ up so half way through the night Russ brought Blake to me in the trailer and he slept much better next to me where he couldn't roll off. And slept soundly till about 7am {much better then the 5:30 wake up time the morning before :)}

Sunday morning we spent more time on the beach and then packed up to head home. 

 It was another beautiful morning!

 Papa and Blake found a fort!

 Inside the fort.

 Running on the beach.

All of us!

I'm looking forward to many more camping trips as Blake gets older {and baby girl too}!