Stake Mother Daughter Campout '15

Our Stake does something awesome.  They have a mother-daughter camp-out every year.  I've heard of all sorts of wards having a father-son camp-out, but I'm pretty sure this mother-daughter camp-out is a far more rare concept.  We go every year and my girls really look forward to it.  Especially my littler one.  She talks about it throughout the year.  It makes her feel so special that she gets to go.  (Rare are the days where she doesn't express her distress at being unable to participate in something her sisters are doing.)

Most of the other campers stay in the (dry) cabins.  But not us.  No way.  We pitch a tent.  Right next to our friends.  I've said before, friends are the sprinkles on the cupcake of life.  Good friends, make a good thing great. 

 

We all enjoyed their company, but Shortcake especially was in heaven.  Camping with the big girls AND her best friend.  My friend took most of these pictures and she caught some REALLY cute shots!

Evening activities. 

In the Pacific Northwest, if you only go camping when you're guaranteed to stay dry, you'd never go camping.  This particular camping trip however, it was made very clear that we really can't put off buying a new tent any longer.  I brought along 2 tarps of my own, but ended up being super grateful our friends had a third one to spare.  We made it through a VERY rainy night. 

EMae's customary camping trip fairy house. 

This is really the best camp-ground I've ever been too.  Their playground is AWESOME.

This year we all exercised a little bit of bravery and spent some time on the rope swing.  "Hey let's go jump off of something." is NOT my typical idea of fun.  But it ended up being a really good thing.  The girls (and myself) each felt really proud of themselves for being brave.