BELLE ISLE STATE PARK
Here we are!
First things first...
...pregnant woman walks to the restroom.
Get a feel for the place.
Watch Chuck and Charley unload the heavy equipment.
Gather kindling
Set up for the main event.
(fire)
Look!
A bigfoot sighting
Settle, in anticipation of fire!
Chuck cooks
Charley plays
And I, well, I go back in forth from my chair to the pee bucket.
Later we tell SCARY-ish stories!!
And then we eat.
This looks gross.
But it was sooooo good. Chili on a cool camping night. Mmmm mmm good.
OFF TO BED
Charley says she's sleepy. She can't go alone. I lay down with her. I plan to get up when she falls asleep. Instead I fall asleep three times, continually interrupted by the kid. She falls asleep none. She decides she is no longer sleepy. We both get back up.
Later we all return to the tent, My Friend included. Chuck tosses and turns. He's hot. My Friend begins to pant. He stands up, presses his face against the tent door looking for a way out. Chuck can stand it no more. He escapes. Ties up the dog. Ends up sleeping in his truck.
I wake up no less than 18 times throughout the night.
Ahhh, the peaceful bliss of sleeping outdoors.
SCENES FROM A GOOD MORNING
My baby in the morning. Cozy goodness.
Glasses and a turkey feather.
Why not?
Snuggly babe.
A fresh shirt and the same pants.
Good to go.
Good morning to the dog who chewed one of two leashes in half sometime in the night.
Sometimes we like to talk mean to him in a sweet voice.
Your such a big, big, stinkin', ugly thing. I just want to kick you across the yard you big, bad, dog.
In baby talk.
It's ok.
He no comprendo's.
Wags his tail.
Morning sky
Eggs and Sausage
Delicioso
(I am SO Spanish today.)
Actually I wouldn't consider raw meat to be "delicioso" looking anytime much LESS when I'm in the process of growing this baby. Barf.
Smells good though
I remembered the butter.
Storytime with the dog.
She was inspired by her Mama and Daddy's stories from the night before.
Sweet.
I was looking in the truck for something and found this.
These kinds of finds really crack me up. Makes my heart happy too.
They're walnuts. I knew she'd collected a bunch, but I didn't know she'd stuffed them in her car seat cubbie. She'd been experimenting/cooking with them during our trip. When we left she begged us to go back to the walnut tree so she could get more. I made her go in and ask the attendant if it was ok since the tree was right beside the camp store. He was very nice and even gave her a bag for her nuts. She brought them home and played with them more. It wasn't until her shower that evening that we found out that walnut juice stains. REAL bad. So bad that I felt compelled to write her teacher a note to explain. It went something like this.
I have to tell you....Charley's hand are not dirty! They're stained by walnuts.
I just needed you to know that.
I was hoping no one would notice the stains on her knee and forehead.
Corn done been harvested.
(Now I am a southern farmer.)
We are heading to the boat launch area wondering if
this will be the time that My Friend flips the canoe.
Upon arrival, Chuck declared it to be way too windy for canoeing.
Instead we walked.
Discovering new places is one of my favorite things.
In new places, you often discover brand new things!
Like PURPLE mushrooms!
I can get excited by a purple mushroom.
Amazing.
Chuck lobs a pinecone at me.
And then prepares to lob a sweet gumball at Charley.
Because I know there are a few of you that want to see my pregnant belly again...
I'd want to look at yours too, so go ahead.
Feast your eyes.
Belle Isle State Park Pros:
Pretty close to the house at 1 hour
Nice fire pit/grill
Nice attendants
Bathrooms were super clean
Camp store was well equipped and eased Chuck's worries about obtaining bait.
We thought the pea gravel camp pads would be a con, but it turns out it wasn't uncomfortable.
LOVED the trails. Makes a lonely, bored, pregnant woman feel like she's seeing the world.
I love the VA State Parks; want to go to Belle Isle but haven't yet. Thanks for the trip!
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Better you than me when it comes to camping. Great pics. Sounds like you all had fun. Charley is a lucky little girl.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are still camping - was worried ya'll might give that up this year. I love all of the pics. You look so pretty pregnant. Of course, you are always pretty, but you seem to have that 'glow' about you:) We are going camping next week - the kids have fall break.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love it that Charlley is wearing her Charley & Jordan shirts in one of the pics:) I think it is so awesome that ya'll did this trip. I know you have been tired lately. Maybe one day we can meet in the middle at a good campground!
DeleteThanks Phyllis. I don't feel very glowy anymore.
DeleteWe are going camping againt this weekend! I just have to get outside somehow. Somewhere different.
I wish you would blog and show us your camp trip (and numerous other things).
THIS IS SUCH A GREAT POST!! I love the photos! Thanks for showing us your pregnant belly. I like seeing it. You look super cute, sister! Charley is adorable, and Chuck looks very handsome. Y'all are a good lookin' family. I want to go camping with Y'ALL. You do it right. I wish you could come out here. I'd show you some breathtaking camping here, too. We have a different landscape, but still very pretty. Love y'all.
ReplyDeleteLove you too sister
DeleteLove all the pics as well. I don't know if it was the Spanish twist of the night, but the light lines of the fire are really cool in the picture. Muy bueno! It takes a purple mushroom lovin' momma to have a walnut stashing girl. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, and you belly is muy bonita!
Ha! I guess that is true Nica!
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