You Don't Need Toys in the Forrest

When we started packing for our first camping trip, the kids talked about all of the toys that they wanted to bring with them. At first I said no, because
1) there wasn't a lot of extra space, and 2) I knew they wouldn't need any of the toys while we were there. So (to keep from sounding like a completely unreasonable mom) I told their sad little faces that they could each pick out two toys.

But those sad little faces kept looking at me, so I finally relented. I gave them a pillow case and told them they could bring whatever they wanted. Because, while I knew that they wouldn't need toys while we were camping, I realized that they didn't know it yet.

So they each picked out several toys that they figured they couldn't live without for three days. And it turned out that the only toy that even came out of the bag at all while we were there was the Frisbee.

They (along with several of their friends) had quite a bit of fun with it. But the other toys never even crossed their minds, as they enjoyed all of the other things that there were to see and do while camping.

Like gathering firewood.

And learning how to wash dishes while you're camping.

And scoping out nature.

And hiking to the lake, where you discover that there is still snow on the ground.

And realizing that even though the temperatures have already hit the 100s at home, it's still cold up in the mountains!

And, perhaps most importantly, enjoying some quality time with your best friend. Who needs toys when you have all of this?

A New-found Sense of Adventure

One of the best things about camping is the freedom that it offers. You can leave the troubles of city life behind for a little while and just enjoy what nature has to offer. Sure, there are still dangers out in the wilderness. But it's different. And, unlike in the city, the kids can be afforded a little bit more freedom to get out and explore on their own.

And explore they did, beginning the moment we got out of the car. As my husband and I set up the tent and unpacked, they examined everything in the immediate surroundings. And quickly (following the rule that they had to stay close enough that they could still see us) their range expanded, and they became more adventurous.

I wasn't at all surprised that my daughter was quick to set out without looking back, because she's always been the Independent Miss. ("I can do it myself" has been her most common phrase since she was about 2 1/2.)

And I wasn't too surprised to see my son head out with her. He's always been more self-confident and open to new things when she is there for company (and support.)

What did surprise me a little was how quickly my son took to exploring on his own. This is the kids that doesn't like to go anywhere by himself, always asking "Can I have company?" He just likes the security of having someone there with him.

But it didn't take long at all before he ventured off in his own direction, not worrying at all that nobody was right there following his every move. We were all still fairly close by, obviously. And I could still see him and be sure that he was safe. But for a kid who doesn't even like being alone in a room in his own house, it was really nice to see him grow and be a little bit more comfortable on his own.

Of course, the vast majority of the time the kids still stuck together. (Exploring on your own is nice, but it's even better with a friend.) And they loved getting to go hiking together.

And as usual, this was a common sight. The two of them, together, heading off to conquer the world. No matter how often I see it, this still melts my heart a little every time.

Capturing the Awe

My kids may not be growing up "out in the country" like I did, but they still love getting out into nature every chance we get. They love picnics, and hiking, and (as we recently discovered) camping. And every time I see them exploring and having fun outdoors, I am reassured that their "city life" upbringing ins't dampening their love of nature in the least.

 You could say they were a bit excited to finally be going camping.

And while the desert has its merits, we were all happy to be escaping it for a little while. Goodbye dry, flat views.

And hello changing landscape. It's nice to trade in the saguaros for some real trees now and then. 

The drive up to the mountains was great, because every time we'd turn or come over a ridge and see a new vista open up in front of us, the kids would "ooh" and "aah" delightedly. My favorite quotes included "Whoa! That's awesome!" and "Look! It's so beautiful!"

And of course the "oohs" and "aahs" continued when we finally reached the campground. (With some of my own contented sighs along with them.) This was the view from our campsite. Complete bliss!

We were fortunate enough to be able to go up a night early, so we had some free time to explore before the official Cub Scout camp out started.

So we got to visit the lake.

And do some hiking up on the rim.

It was wonderful to be able to share this with my family. No cares. No worries. Just a weekend away enjoying our awesome surroundings.

Back to the Land of the Manicured

It's funny how things in your life can take on new meanings, isn't it? And sometimes those new meanings can kind of change your perspective on things. And sometimes it can kind of blow your mind. (Or, if you want to be less dramatic, it can at least make you think a little bit.)

If you know me at all, you know how much I love nail polish (and have since I was a kid.) Sometimes it's muted colors, sometimes a little more wild. Sometimes I go for the cute look, and sometimes a little more funky. It's just one of those little things that I can do to add some style and personality to my look. And it's fun.

But in preparation for my family's recent camping trip, I had removed the polish and cut the nails short, knowing that I would probably be breaking them out in the woods anyway. (Which I did, starting about five minutes after we got to the campground.) I was perfectly fine with that, really. But on the way home it did cross my mind that it would be nice to be back home, and clean, and nicely manicured once again.

And that was the plan. As soon as I could find a moment to sit down with my box-o-tools I would give myself a manicure. Only I didn't do it. Just like I didn't do a lot of things in the two weeks that followed. Like I mentioned, the week after we came back from camping was a pretty bad pain week. And that was frustrating, and depressing.

It was made even more frustrating by the fact that the pain had been caused by something that I really enjoyed doing. And I have to admit that it made me a little bitter. I had all these wonderful pictures and stories to share. But every time I thought about the trip, it just reminded me how much pain I was in, which made me cranky, and sucked out all of my desire to write (and, eventually, to do anything that made me happy.)

But you can only live like that for so long. For me, at least, being cranky and depressed starts getting really irritating after a little while. So I decided to make an actual effort to feel better, instead of just going along with feeling bad. It took a couple of weeks, and a lot of inner dialogue, but I finally got through it.

And then I sat down and painted my nails. And it made me smile. Which made me feel a little better. And once I had that little glimmer, I had something to build on, and eventually let go of the pain and frustration that I had been letting control me. (And it turned out that being "back home...and nicely manicured" was much more of a metaphor than I had realized.)

This isn't the first time I've been through a pain cycle like this, and I'm sure it won't be the last. But if there is a bright side (and you know there always is) it is that I was reminded of a few very important things:

1) It's not so much about where you are. It's more about how you feel. (Your physical location doesn't matter nearly as much as how you react to it.) And once you're in a good place mentally, everything else is brighter too.

2) It is incredibly important to find - and do - those little things in life that give us a reason to smile. Paint your nails. Read a book. Watch a favorite movie. Go for a walk. Whatever you do for your "me time" - make time for it.

and 3) Feeling better doesn't happen instantly. Even when you "decide" that you're going to get over things and move on, it takes time. But it's important to keep at it, because eventually those little things that make you smile will add up, and smiling will be your way of life again.

Toasted Marshmallows and Unopened First Aid Kits

It's Monday once again, my friends. And as always that means it's time to reflect on the things that made us happy over the past week. And of course now is also the perfect time to set the tone for a great week to come! 

If you missed my take on LML, you can find it here. If you missed the explanation of LML Monday, you can catch up here.


Like I mentioned on Friday, my family and I headed out into the woods over the weekend for our first camping trip with the Cub Scouts. Not only did we survive, but we managed to have a fantastic time along the way. I have many wonderful pictures and stories to share, in what is looking now like a six-part "Camping Adventure" series to come. So I hope you'll stay tuned! :)

But for the sake of today's post, I'll just start with a couple of the highlights.

Toasted Marshmallows (and S'Mores, or course!)
One of the best parts of camping (for me, anyway) is the campfire. I love the smell of the burning wood, and the warmth that it offers on a cold night, and how relaxing it is to just sit and watch the dancing flames while enjoying a peaceful night out in nature.

Of course for the kids, the campfire is important for another reason. Yep, all day Saturday my daughter kept asking "Is it time for s'mores yet?" and "Can we toast the marshmallows now?" Fortunately the waiting didn't kill her like she seemed to think it would, and that night we finally got to toast the marshmallows and make some ooey-gooey s'mores.

The kids were adorable, holding the forks oh-so-carefully over the flames. (They're like me, and don't like to catch the marshmallows on fire. Just a slow, gentle toasting is good for us.) And their delighted faces once they bit into the s'mores were priceless. Definitely one of our favorite moments of the whole trip.


Unopened First Aid Kits
My daughter has a tendency to fall down and get hurt. A lot. (The poor thing inherited some of her mom's balance and grace, I'm afraid.) So one of my main concerns about our camping adventure weekend was having a well-stocked first aid kit. And I admit, I was a little nervous as I tried to anticipate how she might hurt herself, and whether I would be prepared for it.

But I'm thrilled to say that my fully stocked kit went completely untouched this weekend. We didn't need any bandages, or disinfectant, or any of the myriad of supplies that I had packed. We were able to explore, and discover, and have an adventure without a serious medical incident. And that made me very happy.

Ok. I shared mine - now it's your turn! Please feel free to leave me a comment and share some of your recent LML moments. Focus on the happy thoughts, and let's all have a great week!

And if you're a blogger and would like to get in on the LML fun, feel free to grab the code and join the blog hop! Your post doesn't specifically have to use the "LML" label (although you're welcome to use it if you'd like, and the graphic that goes along with it.) If you have any kind of happy, positive Monday message that you'd like to share you're welcome to join. The more happy vibes, the better the Monday!

No Phones, No Lights, No Motorcars (or something like that)

www.fs.usda.gov

I will be going off the grid, so to speak, for the next couple of days. The family and I are headed out to the woods for our first Cub Scout camp out. (The picture above is a Forrest Service photo of the area close to where we'll be.) Beautiful, yes? With the temperatures here in the valley already reaching the 90s, we're definitely looking forward to escaping the heat for a few days in the high country.

It should be an interesting experience, since our kids have never been camping before. (I know. I'm more than a little ashamed of that. Better late than never, though, right?) They're very excited, and have been doing a countdown for the past week or so. And telling everyone they see that "We're going camping this weekend!!!"

I'm hoping to come back with plenty of great stories to share with all of you. So... wish me luck. I haven't been camping since I was a kid, and neither has my husband. I'm pretty sure I still remember how to do it. And I'm almost certain that the kids are going to love it. Mostly, I just hope I don't look like too much of a newbie in front of all the experienced scouting families. :)