Go Camping! So Fun!

We've been wanting to go camping for a while now this summer, and with a free weekend popping up this month we decided to take it and run.  So run we did.  We tossed around the idea of trying something on the Mirror Lake Highway, but the forecasts we found made it sound like we'd be meeting up with some wet and/or cold weather.  Instead of risking that, we headed to a favorite spot - the Ashley National Forest near Flaming Gorge.  We camped in the same area we stayed in almost 5 years ago, a little primitive camping area (read: only a few scattered fire rings) called Meadow Park, located a few miles down the road from Red Canyon.  (The place was perfect, too, because it was just a couple miles from a little rest stop area with an outhouse, so when I really needed to use the facilities, it wasn't too much of a trek (driving-wise) to find something somewhat civilized. ;)

Speaking of civilized, Gregg humored his 7-months-pregnant wife by wrapping Cal's bed (a twin-sized mattress) in a couple of tarps and tied it to the roof of the Subaru to bring for me to sleep on.  Unfortunately, about halfway around Pineview Reservoir, only about 10 minutes from home, the mattress was acting as a sail in the wind and the car was wobbling back and forth rather worryingly.  Instead of turning around, dropping the mattress back at home, and heading out again (my idea), Gregg noticed the perfect mattress sized gap in the back of the Sub and shoved 'er right in.  Cal rode the rest of the way with an "umbrella" over her head.  And she was happy as a clam.

Best husband award goes to this guy!

Rather ominous clouds we encountered on our
drive over Trappers Loop.

We pulled into our campsite a little before 8:00 pm, got the tent set up, and tried to get settled in since it was about Callie's bedtime.  Settling was far from what was on her mind, however, and she bounced off the beds in the tent, having a grand time "camping" for the first time that she can really remember.  We finally got to sleep, and the next morning woke up to a beautiful blue-sky day.  Breakfast was French toast (Cal's favorite) and sausage.  Then we headed to Greens Lake at Red Canyon Lodge to splash rocks and feed the fish.  We ended up at the Canyon Rim Visitor's Center and wandered around taking in the views there for a while.  Then it was back to camp for an early nap, lunch (taco salad), and some lounging.  After Callie woke up, we drove down to the dam, where we got a tour of the operation.  Talk about impressive!

What a lovely morning view from the outhouse
at Moose Pond.

Good morning to Callie, the happy camper.
(Don't let appearances fool you - she loved nearly
every minute!)

She thought the tent was just about the coolest
thing ever.

The breakfast crew.

Waiting patiently for her French toast.

Feasting at last.

A little story time in the tent.

Feeding the big fishies at Greens Lake
(thanks to the nice lady on the dock who shared
her bag of food with Callie).

Sigh.  That view just never gets old.

Helping Dad with the blocks at the Canyon Rim
visitor's center.

Cheesy-McCheester.

We are a happy family.

A few shenanigans in the parking lot while mom
took a (one of many, many, unfortunately - I'm
glad my fam was so patient) potty break.

Too cool for school.

Hands in pockets.  Always.

Flaming Gorge Dam.

It's pretty tall.

We had our own private tour, and the tour guide even bought
food for Callie to feed the fish (and marmots) at the bottom
since apparently we're delinquent parents and don't bring quarters
to do such things.

Back at camp again, we had some tent time (Callie's favorite time of the trip) since we had a little afternoon thunderstorm roll through.  Nothing major, but enough to keep us inside for a while.  Callie passed the time playing with finger puppets, reading stories, and dressing up in all kinds of fun combinations of hers and my clothes.  The rain stopped and the skies cleared just in time for dinner - Papa Murphy's pizza cooked on the grill!  That's how to have dinner in the mountains!  Callie begged to "make a fire" with "marshmallows, chocolate and cracker", so we obliged.  Turns out she prefers her s'mores in the raw and separate form.  We wandered around Meadow Park in the lovely golden hour light and then headed to bed.  Cal was worn out!  She didn't fight sleep that night.  (We all slept a lot better on night two, I think.)

All her idea.

Our home away from home.  Practically perfect in every way.

Marshmallows!

Now what do I do with this thing?

That was the only bite she ate.

You know she's tired if she'll sit on your lap.

Still workin' on that marshmallow.

Morning dawned on Saturday and we had some good sleeping bag cuddling going on before breakfast of breakfast burritos and biscuits.  Then we did some more rock splashing at Moose Pond (no moose, unfortunately) and West Greens Lake.  Sleep deprivation was evidently catching up to Cal by then, so back to camp we went for an even earlier nap than the day before.  Gregg and I enjoyed the quiet by reading and exploring and napping in our chairs.  When she woke up, we ate our leftover pizza, broke camp, and headed home.

"So cozy!"

Miss Fashionista.  (My bad for bringing pants that
don't fit properly.  Everything else is all Cal.)

Splashing rocks at Moose Pond.  She "hiked"
around the whole thing all by herself!

Gorgeous view of West Greens Lake.

Time to go home - with the "umbrella" back in place.

Wyoming.  And clouds.  Need I say more?

Callie happened to be sitting next to the paper products,
which kept her very well occupied on the long drive back.

It was the perfect little getaway - no agenda, no rush, just time with my little family in the mountains.  My favorite part was watching Callie enjoy it so much.  She was so excited to go on this adventure, that Thursday afternoon she woke up early from her nap asking to go camping.  She didn't really know what it meant then.  But now she does.  And I think she's hooked.