Camping at Memaloose State Park Labor Day weekend

We went camping with the Mowery family Labor Day weekend.  We were going to go to Timothy Lake near Mt. Hood in early August but changed our plans as Sean's Grandma unexpectedly had to have surgery right before then to remove her colon cancer.  We both luckily had Labor Day weekend open.  I was pretty tired and stressed out after working a long week and just getting back from the coast on Tuesday.  I have forgotten what an ordeal it is to get ready to go camping.  You have to pack all the tent stuff, food, plan out meals at the campground, pack clothes that are appropriate for the kids in case it is cold, bring the blankets and the sleeping bags.  Our car was packed full!  We remembered everything and left in the early evening on Friday.  We stopped off at Hood River for some dinner and then made it to the campsite.  We were bummed when we found out that they had a ban on campfires that was just implemented a week before due to the weather being so dry.  We had to make the best of it though!  We unpacked (which is also a big ordeal), set up the tent (we love our giant instant tent), and got the beds all ready for the kids.  Then we attempted to make s'mores for the kids by making them over the camp stove on a pan which sort of worked.  We then got the kids the bed and went to bed ourselves soon after.

Chilling at the campground site with no campfire but still having fun

Hanging out on her princess chair

Snuggling with Mommy at the campsite 

Being innovative with the s'mores 

These two still enjoyed their s'mores 

All conked out for the night in the tent

The next day we woke up and the kids slept great in the tent and didn't get up too early.  We had a breakfast at the campsite of eggs, bacon, and pancakes.  The kids went and played at the nearby park and loved the tire swing.  Olivia and Sean had fun swinging together at the park.  We cleaned up breakfast (always a fun ordeal) and then got into the car and headed to the apple orchards.  Brooke and Taylor had been to Draper Girls family farm before which is towards Mt. Hood outside of Hood River about 15 minutes.  It was the perfect time to pick apples and beautiful weather.  The kids loved running around the farm and picking apples off the trees.  There was also cute animals and beautiful views of Mt. Hood everywhere.  We had a ton of fun there for several houses and then headed to a nearby Cider house called Fox Tail to try some cider and get some lunch.  Olivia fell asleep in the car ride over there and Sean stayed with her in the car listened to the Ducks game.  I found some cat tails nearby and the kids loved playing with them.  After lunch we headed back to the campground and then got a surprise visit from Auntie Tory and Uncle Tom for an hour!  The kids loved seeing Tory and Tom who were visiting and celebrating their one year anniversary at nearby Timberline.  We hung out at the campground the rest of the day and the kids had fun playing on the playground and Olivia and Addie had a blast playing with Barbies and Ponies in Addie's tent together.  We had a good campground stew (would have been better over the camp fire) and the kids had hamburgers and noodles and watermelon.  The kids went to bed and slept great again.

The campground was beautiful in the morning

The girls hanging out

Rope swing fun!

Playing ponies and Barbies in Addie's tent

Liv found a pinecone

Swinging with Daddy

Going so high!

Seeing the chickens at the farm

First apple of many

Sean tasting them too!

Brandon getting into the picking

Little red headed apple pickers!

Having a blast getting pulled by Daddy

Love this picture

Brandon and Logan-best buds since birth

Playing Ring Around the Roses 

Family shot in the orchard

Probably the best one

Hanging out with his sister

Silly girl!

Looking at the wooden houses

Love this picture

Pumpkin fun!

Best buds on the swing together

Best buds having fun

Olivia and Addie

View of Mt. Hood

Beautiful views from the farm

My honey-10 years this year

Auntie Tory visited us!

The next day we had to pack up (which was a big ordeal) and make room in our car for all our stuff and our big box of apples.  We were able to squeeze everything in and then headed to Hood River to have lunch.  We ate lunch at a really good sandwich restaurant in the center of Hood River.  I got a very yummy apple Brie sandwich.  We were going to go on a hike to Bridal Veil but the kids fell asleep in the car and we just decided to head home as it was already early afternoon and we both needed to go to Costco since it was going to be closed on Labor day.  We made it home and then had the fun time of unpacking it all and washing everything and putting everything away.  It was a lot of work but the kids had a blast and loved it.  Sean and I decided we could handle one camping trip a summer and maybe next time we will go for three nights so its a little bit more time for all the ordeal. We all survived but boy were we tired of going, going, going!  We are planning on a quieter staying at home more summer next year.

Hanging out at the camp site eating donuts for breakfast

Playing on the tire swing

So much fun!