Our first camping trip EVER!

Last weekend we attempted our first camping trip as a family. I have dreaded this experience because I have been sure that it would be miserable, uncomfortable, messy, dirty, unorganized, and either too hot or too cold. Well, I was right for most of it but it turned out good in the end. We got a late start on Thursday because Justin worked until six and we still had to pack things up. When we got to Quartz Mountain, we had just enough time to set up the tent and beds and start dinner before it got dark. We ate some gross bratwurst things and then I tried to get Holland to go to bed.

Not happening! So, we all decided to go to bed so that we did not disturb each other at different times. Justin and I tried to get Holland to sleep and it finally took rocking him back and forth in my lap for what seemed like forever for him to fall asleep. He slept for a couple hours and then it started to get really cold and really windy. I had not been able to fall asleep yet (probably from anxiety about kids waking up and not knowing what to do). Holland woke up and would not go back to sleep. He cried all night! Finally around 6 am he fell asleep in my armpit. Since I was unable to move, I could not sleep and just prayed for the sun to come up! Did I mention that it got cold. It got SO cold and windy that our tent was practically flattened.

The girls and Justin got up and started breakfast. I did not bring warm clothes because I thought it would be a nice day. We shivered through breakfast and broke camp. We hiked a mountain, and walked some trails. After lunch we called it a day and headed home sunburned and exhausted. I think I was the most miserable, but after a good nights sleep, I realized that I really did enjoy myself. However, it will take a lot of convincing to make me go again in the near future.
Our dog, Mattie came with us. We eventually let her off the leash so she could find her own path up and down the mountain. She had no problem charging though the prickly pear and getting pokeys in her ears and paws. She got lots of compliments from the other people on the trails.

My shoulders were killing me. Holland is not so light anymore.

We found this little spot that looked like "The Secret Garden". The girls like climbing on the rocks.

Holland was either carried or "strolled" the whole time. After not sleeping I thought he would sleep more during the day, but no! He was a stinker.

This was also Holland's birthday. Look at his chubby baby thigh! He is such a boy chewing on his tennis shoe.