Family "Camping" 2017

Our family vacation this year was a camping weekend right in our own back yard. On Thursday evening, Jay & Kristen and Shawn & Melissa brought their campers and set them up in what we refer to as our "park." Over the next three days, the entire family enjoyed spending time together in a very relaxed atmosphere.  Jay's camper was set up and used the entire time. Shawn & Melissa had agreed to loan their camper to friends for the weekend so they only slept in it on Thursday evening. On Friday and Saturday they did what the rest of us noncampers did and went home to their own beds to sleep.

We soon realized that the main attraction for the kids and what kept them occupied for most of the weekend was the battery operated vehicles that they could drive around. We all soon got used to the buzzing of the cars whizzing by us.

The boys never tired of them

 

Back and forth they went

Lydia takes a turn while Awstin runs after her wanting it back again.

Alexis takes a spin

Even Hannah drove a little.

Josh thought it looked like fun, but he was a little big and found it went better backwards for him.

Yikes! We had one accident and even though it looked pretty bad, Awstin was only shook up and Daddy and Jeremy rescued his vehicle for him. He was soon back on and driving again!

Surveying the damage

Pulling it up and out of the ditch

On Friday we went to the Plumpton Zoo.

Alexis and Lydia pose at the entrance

Off we go!

Who doesn't like to watch monkeys?!

Awstin crouches down for a better look

Mark admires the zebra

Giraffe!

The children loved feeding the goats

Lydia & Awstin pick up the spilled food.

Mark feeds the alpaca

Camel!

Admiring the bears

Love the way Mark has his  hands behind his back!

The peacock shows off for us.

Mark wanted me to take his picture with the peacock :)

Three big turtles

They didn't like each other and the one flipped the other. It was helpless until a zoo employee flipped it back. Apparently, this is what turtles do to each other in the wild and the one flipped onto its back eventually dies of starvation. We felt sorry for the flipped turtle.

Saturday afternoon we went creek stomping at Josh & Julissa's. It was pretty muddy but the kids enjoyed splashing and getting cooled off.

Hannah decided she preferred to sit in the water.

Other activities of the weekend included riding four wheeler and dirt bike, bouncing in the bounce house, a scavenger hunt, food, hammock rides, campfires and much more.

Josh instructs Julissa how to drive (and stop) the four wheeler

Alexis pushes Hannah in the hammock

Sparten enjoyed spending time with us too and Alexis liked walking him around on his leash.

Actually I think a lot of the time, Sparten pulled Alexis along with him :)

We had perfect evenings for sitting around a campfire.

Mark admires the fire Grandpa built and took care of all weekend

What a fun, relaxing couple of days with those we love!