Camping 101.

I think I’m going to make up a bumper sticker that reads “I survived … camping with 8 children and lived to tell about it.”

Headed out of town this week for a little camping getaway with my good friend, Sonya, and her four kiddos. Just us moms and our littles. Together, we make up an amazing crowd of girlie fun …. with one boy in the mix.

Poor Anderson.

Love kept him company though – when she wasn’t plotting the “steal Andy’s soother” plan.

And yes, we MAY have had the privilege of sleeping in an RV for our trip (bonus!), but we did still manage to make our own campfire, cook outdoors, bike to the beach and back several times with eight kids and have a fabulous time in the process.

Okay, forgive the bad camping hair. And the grungy offspring. We may have had an RV to sleep in but we didn’t have water or hydro for part of the trip (oh, I know, suck it up, buttercup, right?)

Keeping track of whose flip flops were whose was fun …

So was bedtime  …

And the screeeeeeching, ridiculous carbon monoxide alarm going off twice in the middle of the night, threatening to wake up eight sleeping, tired children in the middle of a very quiet campground. {Although this was a super secret girl trip, I have to admit it – I called the hubby for help when the alarm went off the second time around 1:30 a.m.- had no idea how to fix it on this fancy shmancy RV we were borrowing!}

Thankfully, the beach was pretty much ours and the campground was nearly empty so keeping track of our crew wasn’t that challenging.

1 … 2… 3 … 4 …. 5… 6… girlies …

and two on lap …

We had a blast …

doing all things camp-ish … roasting marshmallows … even bathing the kids in a bucket … good times.

Whoever thinks that big families suffer because they miss out on things like trips and fun adventures are crazy …

They obviously haven’t see the Vacher/Gauthier crew in action … 😉

{So grateful for great friends, good memories and awesome summer days with my children!}

July 4, 2011 - 10:45 pm

Melissa You girls are troopers!!!! and so brave! looks like you and the kiddies had a blast

July 3, 2011 - 9:43 pm

Brenda (Gillian’s Mom) Awesome GREAT memories, Gillian and Sonya!!! Way to go!! You are great mommies!! xo

July 3, 2011 - 5:22 pm

Lauren Well done! I’m going to stop moaning about camping with 3 kids and my husband…really, I love it, but it’s work. Mind you, we camp in a tent ;0) Still I have 30 inlaws around to help too, so yeah, it’s a blast! 😀

July 3, 2011 - 2:49 pm

Terri-Ann I am so encouraged to hear it went well! A good friend and I have planned something similar for August – 10 moms, 45 kids, 3 days! I was starting to wonder if we were crazy, heading out with our better halves, but at least we’re not the only ones in the crazy boat!