The one about Reed's 1st Camping Trip

First Camping Trip

Reed had his first camping trip.  Since it was just a trip for the big boys, Bryce and I were keeping it indoors. Mike initiated both Reed and our tent that we bought, oh either last year or the year before.  We don't really camp much, but we were pretty ambitious about it at some point.  
Mike and Reed traveled all the way to the backyard to set up their campsite and Reed was thrilled about the activity. 

As Mike constantly tried to let Reed “help” him, Reed did nothing but tug and pull in all the wrong places- but only when he wasn't plopping down on top of the fabric or trying to get under it.  After it was set up, he went bananas once inside.  Reed knows all about bounce houses and the joys they provide, so he was convinced that he’d just acquired his own personal jumper.  This was an incorrect assumption on his part- it was all no's and Reed, stop-that's from Mom and Dad. 

We quickly realized there would be no calming him down inside the tent- and the possibility of an 8 o’clock bedtime was out the window, or more appropriately vent panel, to be concise.  
Reed was allowed to run all over the backyard in his over-tired hysteria and we encouraged him to just go-go-go.  He did laps through the grass and climbed all over his slide. The strategy worked! They got back into the tent (Bryce was asleep inside the house and I had the monitor with me, so I climbed in as well).  We talked about the moon and read a book before the final lullaby song, which is what zonked him out. 

They were able to make it though the whole night- so it was a success! We are now ready to try a greater distance from the house. Perhaps a neighbors backyard… haha!  I think the plan is actually to hit a campground at the nearby Arcadia lake.  Just a 15 minute drive from home in case of emergency.