Camping Bust

Wish our trip was as cozy as this one! FROM: http://www.iain.co.uk/gif/CAMPERS.GIF "Peak Activities, Ltd."

Nov. 6, 2009. This was our Boy Scout Campout day. So, what happened you ask? We got out there, set up a tent in the dark. Cooked dinner in the dark. That is, after someone let us borrow their stove because are stove was arcaic and did not take the fuel that I bought. Ate our dinner and then watched kids run around and play. Now here comes the fun part. We went to bed or, at least, tried to. Matt had Kaine in the car for 2 hours trying to get him to go to sleep. Trying everything. They finally called lights out (I was reading to Jordan in our tent, trying to get him to sleep). I went to get Matt, thinking that Kaine would sleep if we were all in the tent and it was quiet outside. WELL, we were all in the tent, at least. Here is the problem:

• The tent next to us had a lantern in the tree that they would not turn off. TOO MUCH LIGHT.
• 4 or 5 guys (much older, therefore, should know better) decided to stay up and talk beside the fire. TALKED AS IF EVERYONE WAS STILL AWAKE. Therefore, every time Kaine would start to look as if he MIGHT fall asleep, he was awakened with loud talk or laughter.
• Matt had to pee and would not sit still
• Jordan could not get comfortable and his sleeping bag kept rustling around (not his fault, of course!)
• It was cold (but this wasn't a factor until later, he had layers on and 4 blankets
• Kaine picked up a cold in the middle of the night and could not breathe (biggest factor!)

SO, what happened next? Kaine did finally pass out, yes, I do mean pass out! He was talking one second and then he was dead asleep. The guys finally decided to call it a night and the lantern next door was actually turned off. Matt got up to pee and sleep in the car because his back was bothering him. Jordan fell asleep quickly and only woke once to throw the cover over his head (he will make a fine camper!!). It did continue to get colder. I fell asleep for an hour, at least. Kaine was really restless in his sleep so it kept me awake becasue I wanted to make sure that he was covered. This is how this went down:

1. Kaine would move
2. I would wake
3. Cover Kaine up
4. Try to fall back asleep
5. Kaine would lose binky and fuss
6. I would find it and he would sleep
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6
8. Would move Kaine to get him more comfortable
9. Tried to put a hat on him
10. Kaine woke up because his nose was too stuffed and he couldn't breathe with a binky
11. Kaine finally gave up on sleeping
12. I was not sleeping
13. Motherly instinct kicked in
14. Got Kaine
15. Opened Tent
16. Went to car by moonlight
17. Woke Matt
18. Matt wrote directions home
19. Matt woke Den Leader for gate code
20. Matt took food from car
21. We left
22. Matt went to the tent with Jodan
23. We drove home at 1:30 am
24. Got home at 3 am
25. Laid Kaine down
26. Put dog in workshop
27. Turned heater on for him
28. Stepped on rusty nail
29. Gave Kaine a bottle
30. Went to bed!
31. Woke at 10 am, hoping Jordan was not traumatized! 

So, I thought it would be fun to take a 17 month old on a camping trip. It was, until everything fell apart at night. More planning needs to happen I think. More comfortable bed, space heater for camping (do they sell those?), White noise and an extra tarp to cover the tent in the event that someone nameless keeps a lantern on when babies are trying to sleep!

Other than that the camping was fun. Dinner that we made was great! We had fun running around. Amazingly, even after all of this, I have not given up. I just have to find what works! Crazy, I think that is in the eye of the beholder!