camping - soccer - camping

So we really wanted to camp some more.  But soccer on Saturday mornings?  what to do?

We camped at Turtle River State Park on Friday, drove in for Saturday morning games, drove back for more camping Saturday afternoon and evening, then drove back for church Sunday.  It's only about a half hour to get out there and totally worth it for the camping!  

We arrived Friday late afternoon and the kids started raking right away.  The leaves were the biggest attraction all weekend long.  Yay Grandma for packing the rakes!  

 Grandma and Grandpa had the camper set up and dinner cooking.  Pretty sweet start to a weekend! 

We woke to another perfect day, the warmest Saturday since soccer started.  We invited a few families to come hang out for the afternoon (post-soccer game) and it was a huge treat. 

Roasting hotdogs (yep! that's a lot of boys!)

hanging out with friends (and leaves)

walking down to the river 

one particular frog had a more difficult day than he was anticipating 

heading back to the campsite with a troop of boys

these four girls had to stick close together to counteract all the boy :)

And my John Paul, with the only other John Paul I know :).   Look closely at one of the pics above and you'll notice this same pairing, with my John Paul on the big John Paul's shoulders.  It's a sweet little friendship.  

That night I was so happy tired - such a great day but people-worn-out.  I crawled into the back bunk room of the camper and snuggled up next to Luke and fell asleep.  Problem was I was in the bed Julianna was slated to sleep in (we've been letting Luke fall asleep in there and then moving him to the couch in the main room when the big kids go to bed - the bigger four taking the bunk beds).  Well  Julianna decided she would tuck in next to John Paul for a few minutes while Matt woke me and then moved Luke.  But she didn't last long!   "He smelled gross!" she told me later, "I couldn't sleep with him!"  I asked if he smelled like a combo of sweat and river and forest.  "Yes!"  Camping doesn't get much better than that!  

We did shower before church the next morning :)

And now the camper is winterized and will wait till spring for it's next journey.  We have so loved camping with Grandma and Grandpa this fall!