Camping 2010

We survived our first ever camping trip with Ava! Last year we went to the Frio but we stayed in a cabin on the river since Ava was only 3 months old. Much different experience! We have always camped in a tent so we decided that Ava was old enough now for us to brave it. Ava did amazing on the trip and had more fun than I imagined. I'm not gonna lie though, the first few hours I was Miss Grumpy Pants and starting to regret our decision to go camping. We had a few mishaps with the tent situation so we werent able to really get our stuff set up and the campsite that we were in this year had a ton of big rocks all over the place so I was predicting lots of accidents. Things started to get better after a few hours and I was able to relax a little bit more and enjoy our time there. I thought the biggest challenge was going to be Ava sleeping in a tent for 5 nights but that wasn't the case at all. She LOVED her tent! Yes, we gave her her very own tent that was large enough to sleep 10 people! Her pack n play fit nicely in there and she had her own fan and sound machine to drown out the noise. She slept 12 hours every night and about an hour nap each day (not the usual but we took whatever we could get). The biggest challenge of the trip was making sure Ava didn't trip and fall due to all the stinkin rocks. For the first 3 days we followed her around everywhere and were not more than 2 feet from her in case she fell. I had visions of her tripping and making a face plant right in the rocks and knocking out teeth. Thankfully God pulled through and answered my prayers and kept her safe. She only had a few minor scraps and bruises. She eventually became comfortable with the rocks and was running around the campsite with hardly any falls. Ava's favorite thing to do was play in the water with all the rocks. She watched Macy swim enough that she wanted to try it too so we took her in the water so she could "swim". She never wanted to do that in the pool so thank you Macy for being her inspiration. Our group was a small one this year (Alli, Mom, Bri, Aunt Sah, Uncle Kent, Hayden, and us) but we still had lots of laughs and a great time. I am so proud of how well Ava did camping. She went with the flow and adapted to every new situation so well. It was surreal bringing my little girl to a place that I hold so dear to my heart and where I have made so many fond memories. I have been every year since I was a baby so this year made it my 30th year to camp at Mager's (and Mikey's 10th). Crazy! I am so glad that Ava loves it just as much as we do.


Fast forward to a day before the river...We spent the night at the Reynolds house in Boerne on Friday night. They are always so gracious to let us stay with them. The river is just too far of a drive to make it in one day with a toddler and plus we love the opportunity to visit with them. Paige is one of my best friends from college and Ryan is one of Mikey's friends from high school. They have a little boy, Ray, who just turned a year old. (I mentioned in a recent post that I went to his 1st bday in Sequin). This was only the 2nd or 3rd time for Ray and Ava to play together so Paige and I were really looking forward to some time together and with the kids. They were precious together! Thanks again Reynolds family for letting us crash at your house and for being such gracious hosts. We love you guys!

Ray and Ava

"Ray, you have such pretty eyes. Can I poke them?"

"Hey Ava, check out my new piano I got for my birthday"

Love this girl!

The Dads

Camping Pics (just a warning, there are a ton!)

Our little family was the first to arrive

Putting our toes in the water for the first time

Playing in Aunt Alli's tent

This is how we were the whole trip. Naked and on the go!

Lounging in the chair Kay Kay and Bri gave her.

This is the only picture I have of the whole group (bad photographer!)

Ava loved splashing in the water

And throwing rocks

This is how we found Ava after she woke up each morning or after a nap. Always so happy and just checking things out in her tent.

We had the fan blowing on her so this is her wind blown look

This is one of my favorites. Such a happy little camper!

Ava's tent is in the middle, ours on the left. Sad, right? I am pretty sure I slept with my face buried in the side of the tent every night due to lack of space (oh and Macy slept in our tent too) As long as Ava slept well that is all we cared about.

Daddy and Ava

One tired pup

Eating messy meatball sandwiches for lunch

I am not a huge drinker but I did take a ton of tequila shots with these 3 over the course of the week. Don't worry, most of the time it was after the little munchkin went to sleep...most of the time. ;)

Cheers

Yummy

Daddy and Ava by the river

Throwing rocks for Macy

Macy is a dog of many talents, one being that she can dive underwater to retrieve rocks.

and not just any ol rocks, GIANT ones! She cracked us up.

Ava and her doggy

Sisters in floppy hats

Mom and Bri

Alli caught a catfish but as you can see was a little terrified of it touching her

Alli, Dad would be proud (even if you used a hot dog for bait)

There was some clay on the bank of the river that Ava loved to play in and smear all over people

Swimming like Macy

She now tries this maneuver in the bathtub

Mom and Alli

Who are those cutie patooties?!

Kay Kay and Ava

My little camper. She loves being a wilderness girl just as much as her mommy!

Here are some videos we took while we were camping.

On our way back through San Antonio we stopped by Carla's house so that I could meet her new baby Andrew and see her and Izzie too. Jenny and Bekah also stopped by since they were in San Antonio for a few other events. It was SO good to visit with these sweet friends, whom I have been best friends with since high school, and to once again watch our girls play together. We don't see each other nearly enough so I am so glad we got to spend a little bit of time with each other before we had to hit the road again.

I loved that Ava and Izzie could actually play together. Even though Izzie is a lot older and more mature it was neat to see them interact on a little more even playing field.

Meeting little Andrew who I have been dying to meet for the past 3 months! He is just as adorable and sweet as I imagined.

Big girls

Bekah, Ava, and Izzie

Picking out DVD's

Mikey wanted to hold Andrew and Ava was interested in the real baby

wow, I look awful, but at least all the other girls (and gentleman) are looking beautiful

Carla and Jenny, I loved seeing you and your beautiful children. It's never enough time with you girls...