Taking a page from Aloha's book, I took my two daughters (2 & 4 years old) camping with a group of other families last weekend:

Everyone mostly made it back...

I suspect after this the cat incident will be forgotten.

-Blast

thats hilarious! sounds like you had a good time! One time I went camoing with another family when I was younger and all the other parent brought in way of food for his kids was 3 boxes of poptarts sans microwave... that was...interesting

Holy crap Blast, that was funny. Good narrative, thanks for sharing. And next time double bag the chili, nice save though.

Sounds like a great weekend even with a few problems. I have on question though inevery thing that happened what makes you think there is enough there to make us forget about you and your cat. Had it been your knife and leg maybe. besides if every one forgot about the cat we might never here from Blitz again.

That was great, Blast! You're a brave man.

It reminds me that the wifee is gung-ho to go camping again the moment the state parks here open up in april. Woo-hoo!

You realize now that all the "extra stuff" that Momma insists on bringing along is actually essential when camping with kids. I plan to give her virtually free reign as far as what to bring.

"Blast: Learning the hard way so you don't have to!"

Sounds like a fun weekend, and you got to learn some important lessons re keeping kids happy. I am a little confused about one thing tho, you brought your minimal amout of stuff in a little red wagon, but from the pics others drug theirs to camp in full sized pickups and Honda mini-SUV's. What's with that???

Blast--that was a Blast!!--i can see i'll have to read more
of your blog in detail..kids and camp food--thats a subject..
i took my daughter on a short canoe trip when she was little
and found out right away that MRE's may be a treat for Dad
but kids turn up their nose at them--hot dogs and beans would
have been a better choice...

Blast I just you to know your not alone on this one DW has all knowing power when it comes to camping, if DW can't come (which is rare) she helps pack the truck for the trip, my job is to fuel, check oil, tires and misc. My first aid kit is always packed last (in case of emergency on the way to camp)drive and feed kids as soon as we get there(usually around 1130), set up tent trailer (I know I can hear the groans now) DW does all the rest (set up kitchen etc.)after trailer I get busy building very large bonfire (in firepit)to last until after dinner, DW and I eat around 1400 and DS and DD go play and explore, (with FRS radios) and DR PSK's (they rarely go beyond sight of the campsite)and yes I am the goto guy for campground emergencies (EMT-I).
BTW no way are we forgetting the cat incident

Mike

Camping with kids is a real joy, to see them run and play, give your life meaning. And everything is a new wonderful experience to them. Kids love campfires, Marshmallows are a must, as is a pie iron to make pizzas.



My son who is now 18 and has discovered woman and cars so the camping is on the back burner for a while. He still loves it when I can get him out camping, but it’s not the priority it once was for him. Enjoy the time in the outdoors with your kids while you can.

Blast,
Thanks for the pics and wonderful narrative. Wish I could have been there with all of you. Dr. D was in Colorado so lucky me got to take care of his patients and mine. Looks as if you and the girls had a great time. I'll see you in the borderlands soon
kmat

Look on the bright side, man. Even with all of the mishaps, look who was prepared to handle a serious injury.

Of course, after the cat, you should be ready to handle serious injuries.

Hi Blast - sounds like a wonderful time. It's great to camp out with others and see how everyone's got different ideas of needs vs. wants when it comes to food and gear.

All the great lessons learned from this trip, and 1: None of YOUR kids got hurt, and 2: You've learned them when your girls are still at such a young age that you'll have the major kinks worked out by the time they hit those 'tween years and are more likely to turn their noses up at a lot of things...which may keep them camping with you even when they're older. And I'd consider that a huge win.

Dave

What a great story. Thanks for the memories. When I got stationed back in the states when my kids where pre-teen, I too took them camping. The ex was not impressed with the birchbark splint I had made to keep my middle daughters index finger straight, so that she wouldn't open the laceration. A result of tomahawk practice. I can still hear the high pitched, shrill squeeking voice as I tried to explain ablut stitches and 100 mile dirt road, not one of my best moments, I hate when my voice does that.

Blast,

Remember this word.. Bubbles.

Buy/make a few bottles of bubble stuff for the kids. Great simple fun.

What a great story. The sand part is the best. Draw a heart, get a hug. That is worth all of the bad chili in the world.

Congratulations on a great father/daughters weekend.

"There were times we ate till our bellies were sprained and swollen, of all the harvest of branch and hoof and feather and fin, then there were times when we ate a swag of moldy cheese, a cup of watered down salsa, and a handful of stale crackers. So long as we ate our meals around the campfire or under the stars, we were content."

Some of my sweetest memories are sitting in my big camp chair in front of the fire with my daughters falling asleep in my arms after a challenging but fun day camping. I could never have imagined how good that would feel until after doing it. I am so looking forward to grandkids.

I'm taking my kids camping this summer, can't wait. We slept out in the back yard last summer in our tent to see if they would be warm enough, now it's time to get serious!

Fortunately, my wife and I are on the same page as to what gear and food to bring. No problems there.

Greetings Blast!!!!
I have thoroughly enjoyed your journal entry. I too have been through a similar experience. With that in mind, please think about Lessons 11 & 12:

11) When the friend (whom you've never gone camping with before) suggests going camping by having to haul everything in,,,,,Quickly, have him DEFINE: "having to haul everything in". This is why I too have brought equipment and supplies for one kind of camping (backpacking) only to belatedly realize that another type (car camping) is what they were talking about.

12) Be EXTREMELY careful at regular state or national forest type of campgrounds where you are primitive camping near other people!!!

My case in point:

Having set up camp at Ocala National Forest in the primitive area, everything went well that evening. We had a heck of an electrical storm during the night (ended up sleeping in the minivan). The next morning, everyone is up, we're fixing scrambled eggs, biscuits, bacon, etc,,,,,,,,,when we started hearing some rather deep-throated animalistic noises emanating from the camp next to ours and about 30 yards away. It was a young college couple there and they were practicing the fine art of tricyle motor manufacturing inside of their tent. She was one of the rather loudly vocal types who was very much enjoying the manufacturing process. We kept hearing the words, "I'm coming" like it would be written in a porno book (DW & I kept acting as though nothing unusual was going on) until my 7 year old DD1, sitting in her chair at one end of the picnic table, suddenly turned to DW and myself and clearly said: "I sure will be glad when she gets here because I sure am tired of hearing about her coming!"

Out of the mouths of Babes!!!!

Great write up Blast. Maybe you could market that chili concoction. Sounds like a fun time though in spite of a few mishaps. Man I can’t wait to get out camping again.

Blitz

Nahhh I'd still be around, someone's gotta keep bumping that thread every 6 months or so to share with the newbies.

Blitz

Wow, I expected to be reprimanded for not being well enough prepared!

OldBaldGuy, I was told we'd have to carry everything from a parking spot at the front of the deer lease out into the woods to the campsite. I was very suprised and a bit annoyed to see everyone else show up with coolers of food and tons of other gear. Had I known I would have had a lot more stuff like edible food for instance...

Wildman, "tricycle motor manufacturing"? ROTFLMAO!!!!

SHawk, I understand the voice thing completely! My DW is the only person under 6'6" & 275lbs that has ever truly intimidated me...

To the rest, thanks for the support. I really did have a wonderful time in spite of the few setbacks. I think I also learned more about parenting in those two days than I have in the last three years.

It was proof to me that "bugging out to the woods" is NOT a plan.

-Blast

kmat,

You are still on for the Angelina river trip, right? That'll be an awesome three days!

-Blast

Blast,

"I was very suprised and a bit annoyed to see everyone else show up with coolers of food and tons of other gear. Had I known I would have had a lot more stuff like edible food for instance..."

I don't mean to laugh at you bud but HA!

Planning or knowing the plan, isn't that what we are here for?

Anyway that was your reprimanding.

You were prepared for the emergency that came up and re-acted calmly and rationally. That’s what being prepared is about. I'm sure that boy was very happy you were there. Cudo's to you!

"SHawk, I understand the voice thing completely! My DW is the only person under 6'6" & 275lbs that has ever truly intimidated me..."

Yes, be afraid. That's just common sense.

Blast you are, and always will be, an excellent Dad.

Your Bud,

Blitz

Thanks for sharing your experiences Blast! I have been negligent (or too busy) to get away for a weekend of camping in a little over a year, now. I'll try to get my stuff in one sock by June because I am way overdue!!!

A thought just popped into my mind, hidden there from long ago. You want real fun, become a Boy Scout leader, and go camping with them. The new kids are a hoot, one time one brought a frozen pizza to cook over an open fire...

Aloha Blast,

I have been away from the forum for a little bit. Thanks for welcoming me back with some entertainment!

That work thing has been keeping me a little busy. I just got back from a two state business trip, then immediately unpacked and repacked the evening I got back for our family camping trip the next morning. That was this past weekend. This week has been full of catching up and following up. And we find my mother-in-law in the hospital.

So I am happy to be back online among friends such as yourself. And I am glad you had family time and decided to share.

Which can be done once you show him how to build a reflector oven or even a solar one.

we've been missing yo Aloha!!! Glad to see you back by he fire!

"...my mother-in-law in the hospital..."

Welcome back. Hope the MIL is OK...

Mahalo guys!

Blast, with 2 kids the same ages as yours plus a 3 month old, I'm taking careful notes! Funny stories, and great blog.

I'll add one more camping with kids tip:

When packing away the food in the dark after a (way too late) dinner, be sure to post a sentry at the unsecured food. This is especially important if you're the only campers in the campground, and the local wildlife (raccoons) are used to having their pick of a dozens of other sites with food. The darn coons grabbed the bag of tortilla chips and ran so fast down the hill with it that, by flashlight, I thought one of the kids was being dragged away in their sleeping bag by a bear!

They don't wear bandit masks for nuthin' ya know!

Isn't being a dad the coolest thing?

This is more fun than I ever imagined.

Can't imagine how much fun being a grandfather is going to be.


(samhain rubbing his hands together with glee as he plots and schemes.....)

Grandfathering is GREAT!!! You get to play with the kids all you want, then when you get tired, you just give 'em back...