Friday, August 7, 2009

The Joys of Camping

We went camping with our friends and their kids in Wisconsin this week. You know, because I’m stupid it’s good wholesome, inexpensive, family fun. The first time we went to this particular campground, Hidden Valley, we lost our bikes. We lost everyone’s bike. How, you ask? Well, Joe put them on a rack on the back of the camper before leaving for the campground. When we arrived, however, the entire rack and all its contents were gone. Yep, a half dozen bikes fell off somewhere between Chicago and Milton, WI and we didn’t even realize it. I can just imagine the 12 car pile-up we left in our wake when the bikes went flying off.

On this same trip, Lexington broke her first pair of glasses. The pair she’d had for exactly 24 hours.

But those things don’t hold a candle to what Clay did. At the ripe old age of 2, he hijacked a golf cart (right in front of 4 adults, no less) and drove it into our camper, doing $1000 worth of damage.

So, when we left Wednesday and made it up here in less than 13 hours, I was shocked happy. When the weather was nice and we had an enjoyable evening, I was confused happy. When we spent the whole day at the pool with no major injuries, I wondered what was wrong with the universe was happy. Last night, however, things started to make sense once again. At 4:00 in the morning, Joe heard water running. We knew they were calling for storms, so he assumed the rain had started. After a few minutes, he realized it wasn’t rain he was hearing, oh no. It was the toilet. The last person to use it (ahem, Austin) didn’t flip the switch back, so the water kept running. And running. And running. All night long. It overflowed the toilet and covered the floor in the bathroom. It ran down through the kitchen. It continued into the bedroom where it soaked the carpet. It ran out the front door. It seeped out through the walls of the bedroom. When Joe set foot in the bedroom, a fountain of water splashed up through the carpet beneath his feet. Yep, now this is a typical Meehan camping adventure.

Today, as I sit here writing this, it’s pouring down rain. Jen and I are washing towels covered in raw sewage doing laundry. The kids are playing in the mud rain. I have a raging headache. My ankles have at least 4 million mosquito bites. Camping is fun.

17 comments:

Susan said...

Thanks for reminding me why I don't go camping :)

PastryTiff said...

What a nice post to read as I take a break from packing the van for our camping trip. At least I don't have to worry about damaging a camper since we will be in a TENT :( The things we do for our kids.

Anonymous said...

Oh no! I am so sorry! I bet it's one trip you will never forget.

Jen@Scrapingirl said...

HAHAHAHA!!!! After the last week I had, this makes it somewhat better. That is too funny. I think you should just stick with hotels. Sell your camper.

Elleah said...

Sounds a bit like my morning, except mine wasn't quite so bad. I woke up to a poop explosion from my almost 2-year-old, so I spent a big chunk of the morning cleaning + doing laundry!

Anonymous said...

You are 10 min from my house!! I didnt realize we had a celebrity in town. :)

noexcuses said...

But, you survived! You returned home to your castle where there is comfort and peace...well, at least you returned!

I'm so sorry about the mosquito bites. They drive me nuts! Dot them with vinegar from a cotton ball. I applaud you for camping with the family. We can't stand to be around each other for more than three hours at a time.


I'm looking forward to hearing about more camping adventures! Welcome back!

Brenda said...

I bet all the kids are having a great time.....just like the 4 million mosquito's that bit your ankles!

Dawn said...

Made it home ok? Ahhh no. We still have a couple more days of "fun" before we leave.

Jo-Ann said...

Oh poor you! Every time we venture out, I am sure our bikes will do the same. So far they have remained with us... for how long I do not know.

Hope the weather changes!

Bailey's Leaf said...

The bikes falling from the back with no knowledge-- that is a visual.

Have a better trip. Argh!

Country Cookin' Mama said...

oh man... I don't know if I'll ever be brave enough to take my kids on a camping trip.

Anonymous said...

I have to say one of the last times we went camping we had a space that had NO grass. It was all dirt. And, yes, it rained the entire time we were camping. We fondly remember it as "Mudfest 99" The kids were covered in mud the entire weekend. Clothes, blankets, and we even had the good fortune of a river running through our tent. YES, I said TENT. The grownups were trying to play pitch in our tent and we had to play around a river. We ended up spending the night sleeping in our car. Husband slept in drivers seat, wife, me, in passenger seat and youngest daughter in the back seat. Our oldest slept in the back of Uncle and Aunts pick up truck that obviously had a camper on the back. Guess that's why we haven't camped for years! Surprisingly we have been talking about doing it again this year...we will see if it really happens.

Beth said...

i read the second half of your post with my mouth agape in shock. it's like you're in a movie, and your kids have the script, but no one gave it to you. did you ever see that movie with jim carey? he was a real person on a t.v. show, and everybody had the script but him? and he had no idea they were actors? if you hadn't birthed those kids yourself to be sure, i'd have to start wondering for you. =)

Chris said...

I don't care what anyone says...camping is not fun. Unless you own a motor coach and can afford the gas to keep it going. That's MY idea of camping. Rain and mosquitoes? I don't think so, LOL!!

Cheryl said...

I have one word for you--hotel! :)

With Hope,
Cheryl

Michelle said...

And yet you still do it year after year ;) You do crack me up -- in a good way.

Should I mention btw that I am currently at the Grande Vista again?

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