Camping Part #2

Day #2 (and technically #3 as well -- since we woke up & basically left w/in a couple hours I'll include it in this post as well) was quite an exciting day once it was all said and done.

We woke up very early (it was quite cold that 1st night...or at least I was -- I should have slept in sweatpants). Anne Marie was just so excited she was able to wake up in the tent! Mike and I headed out to start breakfast -- remember how I said I did much better w/ my cooking? For breakfast I had pre-boiled eggs before we left and brought a pack of that pre-cooked bacon. So we had bacon eggs and cheese sandwiches. I also had a huge bag of fresh cut fruit.

Mike was making our yummy breakfast.

Anne Marie Loving her breakfast!

After being at the campground for a day, the squirrels finally realized we were there to stay for a while and they also started to realize we had a 3 year old girl that was willing to give them her table scraps. (They LOVE popcorn by the way) They were quite cute -- and not shy at all. They hung out around our chairs and tent quite a bit! Anne Marie asked if she could "pet" them. I tried to explain to her it was not quite like our cats.

After breakfast Mike and I decided to call our friends Scott, Jennifer & Maggie. They only live about 90 minutes away from where we were camping. We thought that maybe we could meet them in a town between. It just so happened they were coming very close to the town we were near for a doctor appointment, so they were able to stop by for a visit. It was so nice to see them! And, if we would have gone to that "other" camp site we originally wanted to go to, it was in a totally different direction, so we wouldn't have been able to see them! The girls played on the playground, ate some snacks, and we were able to visit for a bit.

After our friends left, we decided to take a short bike-ride. There wasn't a lot of trails around the camp area, but enough to get my legs a little tired & Anne Marie seemed to enjoy it.

Then, it was time to make dinner. I was actually very proud of us! We had grilled Italian pork-chops, grilled corn on the cob & couscous! I actually only chose this because I was trying to take what we could from home to save money, so it's what worked. It was actually quite good & it proves you can have a good meal on a small outdoor fire-pit while camping!! (No need for PaPa John's delivery here folks! -- haaaa!! ) We still made S'mores after it got dark. But this is when our day actually got REALLY "exciting".

About dinner time, a new family pulled into the tent-camping area. They were a grandmother & grandfather w/ 3 grand-kids & two VERY loud & obnoxious dogs. The family was loud & the dogs tried to attack everything that walked by. I looked at Mike and said -- "ok, I"m ready to go". He said that it was late, almost time for bed, and we'd be leaving the next day, so we could deal with it for a short while. We watched them put up their tent (or try) it took quite a while. I noticed the grandfather was having a bit of trouble and had to take quite a few breaks while getting things set up. We could even hear him breathing from our sent site. I told Mike I was really worried about him! We ended up putting Anne Marie to bed, and decided to sit by the fire & eventually play cards by flashlight. About 11:30 that night we heard the grandmother say something was wrong. I asked Mike if we should help. He said not to worry about it. Then all of the sudden we saw the grandfather sitting in his van & 5 minutes later he collapsed & fell to the ground. She screamed for help & Mike was the 1st one to make it to their tent. He was very ill, he was on dialysis, had high-blood-pressure & he had sleep apnea as well as asthma. Mike was able to lift him back in the van to try to wake him. Then one other man ran from the camper area & told Mike they would have to lay him back on the ground & preform CPR. Well, I was still at the tent w/ Anne Marie watching -- about 45 minutes later after an ambulance, EMS vans and fire-trucks came to rush him to the hospital Mike came back to tell me the story of how they thought they lost him, but the EMT's were able to get a pulse when they got there. It was so scary, but I was so glad that Mike and this other gentleman were there to help! Maybe God knew that Mike and this man needed to be there that night?!?! This poor family was still at the hospital the next morning & last we heard as we were leaving was that he was in a coma @ the hospital. I pray that this man makes it out & his family is surrounded by people that can take care of them. What a sad night! But, Anne Marie slept through the ENTIRE thing, I was shocked, with the screaming grandmother, the barking dogs, the sirens, the noises, she never woke up! Thank the Lord, because that would have been scary! I could only think of those poor grand-kids that were there. A VERY NICE lady at the campground agreed to take the 3 kids and watch them until a family member could drive to the campground to pick them up! It's amazing how a group of strangers can come together to help people in need.

Now, on to a more light hearted story. Our new "friend" Mr. Squirrel left Anne Marie presents in her chair each day. Day #1 was some type of shells from a nut. (I didn't get a picture) but Day #2 was MUCH more picture worthy.... see above? Know what that is? I told Anne Marie what it was & she said "that is a bad squirrel!" HEEEEE :o)

Well, it was finally time to pack up! Anne Marie was VERY SAD we were having to leave, she begged to stay, but we promised that we would do it again!!

So, all & all our 1st camping trip was quite successful! A little scary and times, but quite good.