Sunday, September 1, 2013

At the Bay


The world has so many places to camp.  Each place has its own special gift, and we try to visit several every year.

When I was small, my family spent much of our summers in the mountains.  As I got older, life got busy, and my parents took us less and less.  But, the outdoors always kept a special place in my heart.  Once I had kids of my own, we started their camping memories as soon as possible. I love sharing my connection to the woods with them, as though I am somehow returned to the natural me, often lost  in my hectic life of work and school.  

This trip in Davis County was a fun one.  It's a couple hours away, but worth it since we’ve never seen many people there.  Even though it has designated campgrounds, it still feels isolated and peaceful as we relax and listen to the kids play in the water. 

My kids are fearless.  When they were babies, we’d literally toss them on the bed and they would scream in delight.  I was an amusement park ride for them – until they got too big.  I’ve tried to explain to them how I’d preferred they stay little and cute. They have no one to blame but themselves for growing up, but they never buy it.
Since they are too big for me, they find tall stuff from which to jump instead.  They hold contests to see who can hold their breath the longest, borderline drowning every time. My competitive little monsters scare me half to death with that game, but what can I say?  They are adrenaline junkies. 

They fling their little bodies around, racing across the beach and throwing themselves into the water.  If I had half their energy, imagine what I could get done?

Still, I love every minute of it.   Eventually, they do sleep, and often I'll end up with at least one curled up on my lap.


I love this place.  I love nature, and all the things that go with it.  Included in that is my kids' wild ways.  

I just dread the day when these kids are big enough to engage in real danger.  My little people will one day be men, and will not mind what their mother’s tell them all the more!

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