I am not a huge fan of camping. I am not against it, but let's just say my childhood experiences put a bad taste in my mouth. But that's what happens when you're forced to camp from days on end away from any other living human with shotty camping equipment with a pathological narcissist that has no concept of compromise or the feelings of others.
However, I've come to realize that the way my dad did camping was not the way to be a "happy camper" and it is possible to do it differently.
How to Camp Right:
Have good equipment. Modern Conveniences are okay! (especially when you are not allowed to have any fires due to extreme fire danger. Sure, it was a bummer not being able to roast marshmallows over a fire, but such is life when Arizona and Colorado have been on fire the last two summers)
Bring a lot of changes of clothes. You'll need them. And even if you don't, it's a good idea to have them.
Bring a camping shower or use pay showers just down the road (The Mormon Lake Village, for example, has pay showers. Just hope they fixed the ones where quarters are jammed).
Camp with friends or go on a ward/church/group campout. It's okay to be "away from it all" but also still with other humans!
If it's challenging with a fighting 8 and 11 year old plus the 18 month old (especially in the middle of the night and you can't find his bottle in the dark and he's flipping out), it's okay to cut the trip short a bit. I originally wanted to stay an extra day, due to being out of the heat, but Christian and Mikelle may not have lived to see the next day.
Instead, drive into Flagstaff, swim at their Aquaplex and do some rock climbing. Have dinner at a recommended New Orleans BBQ dive, and then drive home. The Aquaplex sounds expensive, but it's not. Even for non-Flagstaff residents, it's VERY affordable, fun and worth it! And they have toilets and showers there!
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| Beautiful area. Forest with nice meadow and open spaces. |
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| Zombie's in the forest? Oh wait, it's just Mikelle. |
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| Just like his big brother, Alexander climbing into the drivers seat to mess around. |
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| Stop being cute when you get in trouble, kid. |
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| Mom's heart attack of the day. Christian really wanted to ride a friend's quad. |
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| Christian getting assistance after hitting a tree. You can't see it, but Mom is having a stroke. |
Later at the Aquaplex...
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| Mikelle and Alexander |
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| Fun at the Aquaplex! |
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| Christian rock climbing. |
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| Two peas in a pod: Christian and Alexander and the smart phone. |
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| Mikelle rock climbing. |
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| The other "kid" rock climbing. |
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| I tried to take a cute picture of them sleeping on the ride home. But Mikelle woke up with the flash and got mad. |
The downside of being home? It's going to be 113 today. It was so beautiful up there. I wish we could live in Flagstaff.
The upside to being home? Showers, bed, toilets, and the dirt is outside.
But even when we do camp again, I have the comfort in knowing that it will NEVER be like it was when I was growing up!
That sounds like me camping w/ my family when I was little. Your daughter reminds me so much of my youngest sister!
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