Reelfoot Camping Trip (part 1)

We have been talking about taking the boys camping for so long and finally we decided to just pick a weekend and make it happen. Scooter had gone numerous times before but this was Rascal's first time to go camping. He wasn't just over the moon excited but I think that was because he really didn't know what to expect. Once we were on the road, that changed and he was HYPER!

The plan was to just stay one night and make it all about the boys. There wasn't going to be phones, computers, video games etc... and we would just let the boys know how very proud we are of them and just spend some time with them.

We headed to Reelfoot since none of us had ever been there and we knew there was a nature center and other things to do there.

First view of Reelfoot (taken from the van sunroof)

Here's Rascal just waiting to be told what to do and taking it all in.

Let me tell you how very proud I am of this. I built this fire and it was my very first time to ever do such a thing. I didn't have any help!!!! I know it sounds silly but I was pretty proud!

While I was working on the fire and getting stuff for dinner together. The boys helped Tim set up the tent. They thought this was pretty cool. I love this picture of my boys!!

Then it was time to cook hotdogs over the fire. It was around 85 degrees outside, not ideal for standing by a HOT fire and cooking hotdogs, but the boys loved it!

Then after dinner it was time for smores!! Man I LOVE smores.

After that the boys threw the football around and we hung around the fire listening to some old old country songs on Pandora. We love the Johnny Cash station.

I am not of fan of this picture of me but it is the only one I got of Tim and me. Scooter took it and he really did a decent job.

When the sun started to set we decided to walk around a bit and I hoped to get a few sunset shots.

Here is the start of the sunset only the trees are blocking my view.

Then we walked up on a clearing and I waited and waited and waited until I got this shot.

SO PRETTY!! 

Once it got good and dark and the bugs started to bite we headed into the tent to hang out. The boys were ACHING just to get in the tent. We didn't go right to sleep, the boys laughed about everything little boys find funny and Tim laid there just listening to the sound of happy boys. It's the BEST!

Once it was time to actually go to sleep, Rascal started to get scared. We played musical beds/ sleeping blankets and then once he was right next to me without an inch of space and his arm draped over my waist squeezing tightly, he fell asleep. Boy was it HOT but I didn't have the heart to move him (actually I tried and he woke up and got even closer to me) so I laid there trying to fall asleep. I would sleep some but it just isn't as comfortable as I remember it being when I was a kid. :) Oh and sleeping next to Rascal is like trying to sleep next to a Tasmanian devil. The boy moves ALL. NIGHT. LONG!! Mental note made!

Yep.... good old bear tagged along on his first camping trip too.

This bear has been every where! I wish I would have taken it's picture in every place we have been with it. Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama, Nashville, Kentucky Lake, taken to preschool, taken to BSF, taken to Kindergarten 3 or 4 times, left at the mall (I called around frantically trying to find him that day), drug along on many many many play dates and the list could go on and on and on. There is no end in sight as to when Rascal will give up this bear but I know one thing he loves that thing so much and doesn't care that it is "very well loved" (aka dingy, ratty and pitiful).

I have a lot more pictures but they are all from the next day there so I will do a part 2 post with those.