A Crazy Camping Adventure….
Well well Well… I was always an avid camper. We camped OODLES before my first came along - and then camped when he was just a year old… We continued camping when I was pregnant with #2 (When I had only a few weeks left before I was due!) Then we dia few rustic cabins (read - four walls and a bed) when Sean was 1 and 2. And it was wonderful. But, I always had the desire to get back to a tent.
Then my marriage went KABOOM. Well I couldn’t very well take them camping on my own could I - too much work! Right? Wrong.
This year, with the kids being 9 and 4.5 I decided I was going to go again come ‘hell or highwater’. So I started planning… made arrangements to go with some friends… started looking for a new tent….
Then Mr. Right came along. He’d never been in the woods in his life! (City boy!) So I decided to go ahead and plan the trip - and if he chose to join us then great.
Bought a tent that was large enough for 7. (Which we all know would reasonably sleep 5 or 6.)… and started getting organized.
Lo and behold - City boy did want to come! LOL.
So here is how the week went…. My boys, Jimmy - my friends and their two boys… In the middle of nowhere at Balsam Lake Provincial Park.
Here’s our “home away from home..”
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It was awesome… and waterproof apparently - thank God… The rains got us.. every day. But - we persevered. we swam when we saw sun and played cards when the rain came out… Our site was well treed so we were able to get out a little if the rain wasn’t too bad.
Here’s us swimming… (and riding the boat that BF bough the kids!)
Jimmy learned to BBQ!
And we bonded as we held out in the tent - hiding from torrential rain!
We were only supposed to stay for three nights - and with the weather I was sure the kids would want to go home - but no - they begged to stay a few more days……
How could I say no to these faces????
So I drove Jimmy back to the city (2 hours each way) while the kids stayed with my friends…
And it was so worth it. Despite the rain we had a blast…. I’m super glad we did.
We saw deer…
and even got back in the lake between rain storms!
It was an awesome week…. great times… great bonding… just a blast overall…
And next year - I’ve promised them a full week.. and - oddly enough - BF wants to go for 2. Maybe the city boy is not so much a city boy afterall? LOL
August 13th, 2008 at 2:25 am
I just wanted to say that I only came across your history over the last say, 8 weeks, when my world came crashing down around me. Your help on the Single Parents Board has been wonderful, and honest. I am just so glad that you found your Mr Right, and that you have a great life now with your kids, and an ex you can (mostly) get along with. You are such an inspiration, and seemingly, an awesome person. You are the kind of person that we can all aspire to be. Wishing you and yours the absolute best!
August 13th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Wow. I’m touched. Not sure I deserve all those kind words - but thank you!
I’ll never forget the day the world came crashing down around me… I just want anyone in that situation to realize it doesn’t stay that way!
August 16th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Shell, it looks like you guys had an awesome time! I am so glad everything went well!
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:13 am
I’m a vetran of camping on my own with three kids. The youngest was only 6 months old my marriage went as you say KABOOM. That didn’t stop us from camping, it was affordable family fun. Good for you getting out there, don’t be afraid of going it on your own with the kids either, it can be a great bonding experience and the kids will help out if you let them know how, they will be very proud of themselves.