The Wilsons Camp

For the first time in 8 years, the Wilson clan (my family) went on a vacation together! We are a family of camping enthusiasts so a weekend camping trip together sounded perfect and by the end of the first day it had already been established that, like our childhood days of yore, this would once again be an annual tradition to be repeated every summer. Yay!

We camped on the backside of Detroit Lake and one of my favorite things we did is hike up to Stahlman Point for this beautiful view of Mt. Jefferson

Of course, if I would have known that it was classed "moderately difficult" and that I would be climbing a 1300 foot elevation gain for over 2 miles, I don't know that I would have gone! I'm not the most in-shape mama. I FELT LIKE DYING. 

This crew all reached the top well before me (except for Mum who kindly stayed with me the whole time), along with my dad, brother-in-law Dave, and SIX YEAR OLD NEPHEW. Whatever, Elijah. So here they all are on their way back down while I am almost to the top.

It was so worth it to push myself on up though! And Russ came back up with me just so I could get a picture with him, even though he HATES heights and couldn't handle being up there for very long because the top is pretty much the size of a postage stamp. He's so good to me!

I don't mind heights one teeny bit ;)

Back to camp again, our patriarch "Papa Wilson" relaxing with Bailey, the mini schnoodle. 

Bailey has nothing on my brother and soon-to-be sister-in-law's Italian Mastiff, Kenna!

We celebrated two birthdays at camp, my nephew Lincoln turned 2 on Friday...

and Kendall turned 15 the next day!

Opening her gift from us, a silver locket (one of her requests)

which it turns out she really, REALLY loved :)

Go, Dave, go! Our campground, Hoover Campground, was small and perfect for our kids to loop around on their bikes and scooters without getting lost. 

Sporting out new jogger sweatpants... we are nerds. Very comfy nerds. Very comfy nerds ready to kill it in card games! Eating and board games are the basis of any good camping trip, yes? Well then we nailed it.

And yes, we played in the water too! 

(some of us may have just observed, or taken a nap after hiking four and a half miles when they swam the day before.)

My crew at the very end of our trip. Man, we had a great time!

And now for a little Wilson Camp confessional:

- one of us forgot underwear.

- one of us forgot sleeping bags, blankets AND pillows and was only saved by a spouse who made a random comment, literally on the way out the door, that reminded the other, otherwise it would have SUCKED TO BE US.

- one of us forgot the bread for sandwiches.

and

- all of us got "shushed" by a camp neighbor in a very motherly fashion for being way too loud after quiet hours began. 

 Camping is the bomb shiz :)