Intro To The Forest

Get ready. This is going to be a very long post with approx. one hundred pictures (not really but close). It is what Casey and I called all weekend day long, "Intro To The Forest." We traveled a very far distance (not really only about fifteen minutes) to the nearest State Park and did a variety of activities (hiking, exploring, fishing, swimming, fire making, and all around "getting tough") in a nice little amount of time (all of about twenty two hours including travel). It was fun. We left Molly back with YaYa and decided that this would be our camping adventure for this summer.

I would not call myself an outdoorsy girl but I do enjoy things of this nature to a degree. Here we go....

Intro to the Forest consists of reserving a nice little Yurt complete with electricity and my favorite, a locking door. Here is ours.

This was thrilling to K&H because, you guessed it, "bonk beds!" Kyla could have stayed in there all twenty two hours playing Rapunzel's Tower and Parent Trap. Despite the delight of this experience she ended up not sleeping up there and instead opted to be down with the rest of the family when pitch blackness set in. 

 We coaxed her out of the top bunk for a little exploring and a few posed photos. Notice the necklace and bracelet. I didn't think much of it at the time.

Kyla's favorite activity quickly turned to gathering sticks (apparently this is what Flynn Rider would do).

Heidi had to stop at each water spicket for a quick drink. There is one every four or five campsites. Bike riding can make a girl VERY thirsty.

Next we turned our attention to the river. We found the perfect place for fishing and swimming. Here is Casey testing out the fishing with the pink Barbie pole.

We got a few nibbles but didn't catch anything. Heidi was quite into casting herself.

Heidi really wanted to swim and cross the river with Casey. She thought a lot about it. Isn't she so cute? I love this picture.

Not so sure...it's pretty cold.

And hang on for dear life...

She made it and Casey had to swim back to get Kyla who climbed onto his head and choked him the entire way across screaming, laughing, and shrieking. You can't see Casey because Kyla is pushing him under the water to get herself out of the icy water.

The three of them explored the other side of the River. Apparently they had to go through some thick brush and had to "get tough."Then it was time to come back. Here are all three of them bracing for the cold cold swim back.

Kyla is laughing hysterically. Heidi is crying hysterically. And Casey is just trying to make it.

Kyla's exact words to me as I took this picture, "I don't really think I'm an adventure kind of girl."

Of course my favorite activity was taking all of these pictures. That's why I'm only in this one.

Back at camp we made a fire, and had hot dogs and Smores. Kyla went into the Yurt and came back for Smores looking like this.Apparently she had packed a huge amount of jewelry in the purse I allowed her to bring.

We turned in for the night, snuggled up in the Yurt, and watched a movie on the iPad. Remember, this is Intro To The Forest. "Intro" allows you some comforts of home, said fancy jewels and an iPad.

Good morning. Cereal outside on the picnic table.

We cleaned up camp and headed out for a little more exploring before going home.

Here is Kyla minutes before she fell into a patch of Stinging Neddles. Ouch!! It's all part of her "Intro." I did feel bad for her though.

Good memories. Next time maybe we'll stay a little longer or go a little farther or just rough it a little bit more. Casey was a good sport "camping" with his family of girly girls. Thanks for the adventures and your patience.