Rained Out

This weekend we went on our first camping trip with both kids...unfortunately it was also the first time it actually rained in the last month! We left on Friday for Sibley State Park, it was a beautiful evening to set up camp. Phil's parents, sister and her boyfriend were also there. We sat around the campfire, Mason had his first smore and we had an unexpected visitor. In an attempt to get Mason to pick up his toys I told him if he didn't pick them up "the raccoons would come and take them to play with." This helped and he picked up his little shovels he was playing in the sand with. About an hour later as we sat staring into the fire we heard a rustling in the woods, Phil and his dad flashed their lights into the brush and there about 15 feet away was a little raccoon staring at us. Of course I jumped up, so did Phil and Mason was startled by our quick movement, he began to cry and say that he wanted to "go home." The men got the raccoon to go away and we decided it was time to call it a night...not sure how long the night would be with both kids sleeping outside and a balmy nighttime temp in the 40's. The night went well, the raccoon decided to come to our site and rip our matchbox apart but no other problems. Jayden only got up 2 times and we were all still sleeping at 7:30, very "late" for us if we were at home. It was chilly, I spent the night encircling Jayden as much as I could to keep her warm and Phil and Mason snuggled on another air mattress. The morning began with Mason tripping on a rock and hitting his face square on a wooden board at the campsite...no blood but all I heard as I was coming out of the bathroom from brushing my teeth were his howls. I thought for sure he would get a black eye because he hit the bridge of his nose, but today you can't even tell he fell. Then the rain came...it rained all day and the temperature was not getting warmer. We had a great breakfast (omelets in a bag) and an equally enjoyable lunch of soup and sandwiches. It was then nap time and the troops were getting crabby so we loaded up the car and decided to take a drive for their nap. We went into Willmar to see if there was such a thing as a battery operated heater that would not burn our tent down...no luck. We made the decision to pack up and head home. The forecast didn't look like it was going to dry up or warm up. Phil's Mom and Dad were nice enough to pack up our wet tent and bring back a few remaining items today. Mason wanted to "camp more" but with a possible low of 42 degrees and now everything wet we thought it would be better to go home and sleep in dry beds. Camping was fun and we wish the weather would have cooperated...at least we made it one night...Jayden had fun, you could tell she will be a good camper...Mason had fun too, he just has to watch where he is walking!