First Camping Trip

And we chose Kiptopeke State Park. Went with our friends Janet, Dan and Sylvia. Wonderful way to spend a rainy Richmond weekend - on the sunny southern tip of the eastern shore. Wondeful way to spend a sunny Richmond weekend for that matter. We spent only one night and had all the basic amenities in the nearby vehicle, but we packed in some relaxing fun, something we all needed. It was a good trial run for us and we are now determined to make this happen again in a bigger way soon.

Little bit of walking on trails and the beach. (Thats POLLEN(!!) on the deck here.)

Here's little Sylvia doing what she loves most...guiding mommy and daddy around by the hand.

Little bit of hanging around the campsite watching Alder and Sylvie play on a quilt.

They played GREAT. Seems like typically Alder has not been very fun and cooperative with Sylvia, and we might have figured out that this is because we always get them together in the evening when he is tired and cranky. Thankfully, they had a blast sharing toys and baby wallowing.

We all had a couple of nice walks on the beach.

Alder loved the tent, playing this game he's liking these days where he sits up on Les and falls over to squeal and attack her with kisses.
And here's a crazy one. The last time we slept in this tent was in the Rockies, backpacking after Pete and Jayme's wedding, September 10 and 11, 2007, when Les was days pregnant and we didn't know yet....whoah... and on that note this broke our longest stretch ever of no sleeping outdoors.
This was Alder's second time at the beach but this time he seemed to get it a bit more. Just a bit. Seemed to realize at least that this was one incomprehensible amount of water. I made the bathtime sign (hands up and down on the chest) and pointed to the water and rather than the excited grin he usually gives to that, he gave this blank pause like that was the biggest bath he had EVER SEEN.

Alder loves his sleep. Even if naptime is when we are out for a walk on the beach, he cannot keep his eyes open. We can simply say 'night night' and he immediately puts his head down and sucks his thumb. This is a handy way to get him to chill out when not near the bed...as seen here.

We've got more goodies to share real soon, but wanted to give this post to a monumental event.