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!