Our Second Annual Camping Trip (Or "A Guranteed Way to Make It Rain")

This past weekend we had our second annual family camping trip.  We went to Silver Falls, here in Oregon. It is absolutely beautiful there.  Last year we went tent camping, and it rained so hard that we had to leave after only one night because all of our belongings were soaked.  So this year I reserved a cabin instead.  I thought a cabin would be so much easier to handle any rain that might occur while we were camping.  (And yes, to this girl, any thing that involves not being in a hotel or having a bathroom attached to the place you are sleeping qualifies as camping.)
The entire week leading up to our camping weekend was absolutely beautiful.  The sun was out, plants were blooming, our cats looked for shady spots in the yard to take their naps, and there was nary a drop of rain.  Then Friday came along.  The day we were supposed to leave.  And wouldn't you know it, the sky opened up with a fury only seen when you really, really, really don't want it to rain.  But it's okay, I told myself.  We have a CABIN!

Flash forward to our arrival at the campsite.  The cabin was great.  It had a bunk bed and a double bed in a separate bedroom.  There was futon in the living room, and a table and four chairs.  Each of these rooms was about 8 feet by 10 feet.  The good news was that everyone had their own bed, and it was warm and dry.

The bad news was that this is not a lot of elbow room for a two parents, a 17 year old, a 10 year old, a 2 year old, and a 7 month old.  Never mind the fact that all cooking had to be done outside on the two burner propane stove, or that the firewood we bought at the campsite was wet and wouldn't stay lit enough to make s'mores.  And because of the rain, I couldn't really take Nicole outside for any walks, so she and I were pretty much stuck inside the tiny little cabin for the majority of the weekend.
However, the skies did clear long enough for us to take a walk on the trails around the water falls.

It was incredibly beautiful, and I was so thankful to be outside at last.  All the kids were great, and it really warms a mother's heart to see her children getting along and helping each other.

Cassandra and Charles helped Eloise navigate the trails, and Josh and I took turns carrying Nicole and taking photographs.  Turns out Josh is quite the nature photographer!

Me, I prefer to take pictures of people.  They fascinate me.  I like to look in their eyes to see if there is a story there.  But that is a topic for another time.
All in all, the trip wasn't so bad, but I was definitely happy to be home.  But I always feel like that after any sort of overnight adventure away from home.  It really is true..."Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home.".