The 4th

CAMPING!

Zach had his first camping trip this last weekend. It was also our first camping trip in two years. We lucked out and got a spot on 4th of July weekend up by Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. We went with our friends the Rogers. It was nice to get out of the city and I would say relax but camping with a baby isn't quite as relaxing as it once was.

I got a new tent from the Ropers as a graduation present, something I'd be thinking about getting for some time now. We just needed a little bigger tent for our bigger family. Zach loved the tent and I think for him that was the best part about camping. We were car camping so we went car camping de-luxe. We had a queen size blow up mattress that Zach thought made the perfect bouncy castle. There would be no napping when there was bouncing to be done.

We stretched our legs after a little rain storm while dinner was cooking. We had a great meal in the dutch oven completed off by a great cobbler that Brett and Amy cooked. I love dutch oven cooking, to me it signifies the ultimate car camping experience.

Zach liked the fire, he didn't like the smoke as much (he must get that from his Roper genes) as I like all aspects of fires. We didn't let Zach have a smore but I'm sure I will sneak him some when Em isn't looking next time.

Because Zach can't walk yet we tried putting him in the play pen with Owen but you can see how well that went over. Em ending up holding him much of the weekend and she swore we won't go camping again until he can walk. I'm already working on planning another trip in a month or so, I hope he learns to walk quickly!

We really pushed the envelope with Zach this weekend and stayed up to watch the fireworks in Boulder with the Rogers and the Ropers after camping. We didn't know how he would react but he seemed to like it well enough. We hope all ya'll had a great 4th as well!