Our Tripod Adventure

Our first family camping trip to Tripod Reservoir was a total success last weekend - we were joined by two other families- the Taylors (good friends) and their neighbors, the Katseanas (whom I would love to get to know better). Here's the numbers to sum it all up:

18-

Multiply this number by two and that's how many eggs were used to cook breakfast in the Dutch oven Saturday morning. Combined with some rice, hash brown potatoes, green chili, bacon, and cheese, it made for delicious burritos. Too bad we had a whole Dutch oven's worth left over. We are still eating eggs for breakfast.

11-

There were 11 kiddos under the age of 10. With only 6 adults, we were totally outnumbered.

9-

The number of pollywogs within a square foot of water space. They must have had a massive frog hatch recently as the water was chalk full of the small, funny critters. And where there are pollywogs, there are toads. Fielding was a master at catching them Friday night....

5-

Five people braved the rope swing. Three of us successfully completed back flips into the water, one attempted and almost made it through the whole flip, and Cosey rocked the jump to represent the under-25 crew. Thanks to Caley, we have it documented in slow-mo. First me, then Chadwick.

4-

The reservoir and camping places were located 300 feet from a parking lot. We made four trips to and from the car with our wagon (thank you, Nancy and Steve!), not including the trip for the canoe.  My mom texted me with the thought that we need more stuff. For the record, Darwin was not buried in his crate behind the kids. We left him with a friend for the two days.

3-

Blake, Chadwick, and Logan started the Tripod swim team. Logan swam the distance of the lake and back with grace. To quote Cyndi, Blake and Chadwick tried not to drown.

2-

Two canoes made the weekend that much better. We had a brief rowing competition across the lake, attempted to catch pollywogs with plastic cups, enjoyed the feeling of being on the water, and let the kids take a turn at paddling. I was massively impressed to see the entire Taylor crew packed successfully into one canoe.

1-

One moment of peace between Spencer and Luna. It's almost not an exaggeration. The other 9 children got along wonderfully well for the two days of the trip and there was always someone willing to play. Sliding down the dusty hillside was a favorite, as was catching pollywogs and fishing. 

This is the face that woke up in my sleeping bag Saturday morning. I don't remember him bashing his eye....and the chocolate from too many cookies was still smeared around his mouth.

My little man...

 Everyone was a dusty, tired mess by Saturday afternoon.

Good times.