Every year, the Hadfield side of the family gets together to camp up Payson Canyon at the riding club's "cabin." We've gone up a few times, but usually just for an evening. This year, however, we decided to break out our new tent for the first time and try camping with an almost (at the time) 9 month old. And a dog. But only for one night :)
Mocha shortly after we got there.
Henlie was excited to see Grandma. And vice versa.
Matt gave me until 10am Friday before he would start harassing me. We left at 9:30am :) and the only thing I forgot was my pair of glasses for at night after my contacts are out. (I'm really quite blind :p)
Matt trying out McKade's bike...and helmet :)
It is always fun when we get to hang out with family. Mostly, we hung out around camp and talked. The kids played games and had some crafts. Aside from being my first time camping in a tent in years, Henlie's first time camping (and her having sleeping struggles anyway), and just the logistics of camping more than one night, I'm really glad we just decided to go up Friday to Saturday. That's when most everyone was there.
Matt playing on the stilts he played on as a boy.
When we got there, the littles were blowing bubbles and the bigger littles were having adventures and making bugs (from water bottles, that is). We broke out our tent and didn't find the instructions until it was halfway put together lol. It went up pretty easily. It's a really nice setup too (thanks, Mom!). And big. So big. Matt was talking about laying it out beforehand to make sure all was well since we'd never used it....but it is 11' x 11' - almost the size of our living room :) Needless to say, we fit both sleeping bags, a pack and play, our bags, and the dog kennel in with room to spare :)
Setting up the tent.
We finally found the instructions - where we had looked for them in the first place. Turns out there were three tabs - but they were all stuck together :)
One of the crafts was making boomerangs. Later, we walked down to the clearing to watch people throw them. Good times, but I was done walking anywhere outside of camp. The hill back was less than fun :)
Walking down to the clearing.
Canon, Me, Matt, McKade, Larry
Camile, Jason, Charlie, Devan, Kayla, Becky
Ian getting ready to throw his boomerang.
Matt picked a weed for Henlie on the way back to camp (behind her ear...)
It's a good thing Henlie has an awesome cousin with fun outdoor toys. We played with Charlie's rocking horse, slide, and bike while we were up there.
Mocha had a grand time as well. She got to be off leash, and she had Paisley, Chloe, Sadie, and Sasha to play with. Plus, who knows how many people feeding her who knows what? Spoiled pudgy puppy.
Resting down at the clearing.
Princess Chloe sitting in her throne.
Later in the day, Henlie even got to ride a real horse (thanks Grandpa, Aunt Jen, and of course, Jewel!) and we sat and chatted (and ate oreos and pistachios lol) while some of the fam headed over to Payson Lakes. Devan and Curtis played a game of horseshoes with their wives. We watched, and Jennifer did Matt's hair :)
Larry and Jewel
Henlie telling Dad how fun it is to be on a horse.
Thanks Grandpa and Jen!
Matt was sitting so still for so long that he ended up with a butterfly friend. In fact, afterward, he got up and wandered over to the kitchen/patio area and still had the butterfly on his shirt. We'd forgotten about the poor thing until it flew away when Matt tried to put his hand in his pocket.
Devan getting ready to throw.
Matt selfied with Jen braiding his hair.
All done!
The butterfly - there were so many up there!
That evening, Grandpa Hadfield came up to enjoy time with the family, and dinner. Friday was also Dad's birthday, so we sang and had cake for dessert. As usual, we had family home evening as well. Henlie didn't want to go to sleep, so she got to stay up for the fun and the lesson. In fact, she still didn't want to go down after that. It was a long night.
Jackie and Laurie assisting while Dad blows out his candles.
All bundled and ready for bed (a longsleeve onesie, longsleeve jumper, socks, wearable sleeveless blanket, and a jacket - that's warm enough, right?)
Everyone gathered for family night.
Shawn told stories and Jason taught us a funny song.
After dark, Mom gave the kids glow sticks to put in their bugs. Henlie got one as well. It doubled as a pretty sweet night light in our tent.
Henlie and Me with her glow stick.
4 Generations
Great-grandpa Hadfield, Grandma and Grandpa Biggs, Dad, and Henlie
I wasn't tired the first bit we got Henlie to sleep, so I stayed up reading. And then she woke up. She screamed for quite a bit of the night. Fortunately, most everyone else was still up. There was even a game of Capture the Flag going on right outside. And then Keep Away - they had to institute a rule of no throwing between the tents. Poor Ian apparently tripped over one of our ropes. He pulled the anchor out of the ground he hit it so hard.
Playing on Grandpa's lap Friday afternoon.
Selah, Michelle, Henlie, Larry, Matt, Mocha
Look - Matt can smile!
It was a pretty warm night for the most part. When Henlie's skin finally felt cool (after waking who knows how many times), I stuck her in my sleeping bag. She nursed in bed a little bit, but that is how we got the most sleep.
How Henlie ended up sleeping - taken Saturday morning
Playing with Grandma's camera at the clearing.
Carrie, Henlie, Devan, Larry, Selah, Melody, Brev, Laurie
Playing with boomerangs in the clearing.
Kayla and Jackie resting on the fence at the clearing Friday afternoon.
Henlie has been fighting a runny nose for awhile - here's a pic of my snot-nosed little model playing with Aunt Camile in the clearing.
Me and Matt at the clearing on Friday.
Camile was helping Henlie fly - which she loves - but this is funny expression :)
In the morning, I thought Henlie was waking, but she stayed asleep. So I got up before her, and before most people. We had hot cocoa and yummy pancakes for breakfast (and Mocha had so many pancakes). Then we took down camp. We left camp about 10am. Successful trip. (And since then, we have purchased our own mallet and tent duster haha)
Getting tickles from Aunt Camile.
AND Aunt Kayla :)
A pic of the mountains while we were in the clearing.
