Camp Wadsworth

By sheer luck, we ended up with a campsite in Big Sur this week!  

Our beloved doula, Rachel, just happened to have a reserved spot she couldn't use and we snatched it up as quick as we could!

Thanks again Rachel!! =)

Part One:  We head out

So.....as much as I love camping...and have been doing it for years and years and years...this was the first time I'd ever packed up my OWN family and driven off seeking adventure.  

Needless to say we had to borrow a TON! 

(thank you Andrews and Chipman family) 

By the time we got everything packed into our tiny car, we barely had room to sit down.  

As we pulled away Talin laughed at our little clown car crammed full of gear and people.  

The image of us pulling in to the site and EXPLODING folding chairs, air mattresses, food, and matches made me laugh! 

HA!

We started early....but then had to stop....then stop....then stop...then stop.  

BLURGH!  

Next time we go camping I am not leaving ANYTHING for the "drive down"! 

I will say though, I have NEVER had such a gorgeous ride to a campsite before.  

Twisting up and down Hwy 1, looking out at the beautiful ocean and lighthouses....it was amazing!

PART TWO: Welcome to camp

We finally made it to our little piece of nature at 5:00.....so much wasted time...but we jumped out of the car, popped up the tent 

(which was a little hilarious in and of itself...the efficient German family of four sharing a pup tent next to ours sat sipping out of tin mugs on their bare picnic table and watched us, amused as we struggled to put up our massive palace of a tent....cloroxed the table and spread a SUPER colorful polka dot tablecloth then pulled out ridiculous amounts of food to cook.  I'm sure we were quite the show!)

Once the tent was up 

(see the extension cord?  HOORAY for campsites with electricity!)

 it was time for dinner 

(as Ezra had been LOUDLY telling us from the second we pulled in....I think I may have gotten him a little too excited about eating food cooked on a camp grill)

Talin wrangled bratwurst and veggie dogs, while I laid out the watermelon and chips...

Ezra took one bite then lit up with a HUGE grin and yelled, 

"Heyyyyyyyy I think I like these hot dogs!" 

Ha!

With full tummies and warm bedding all set up we settled in to enjoy our new home.

We played games, read a few stories and watched the trees around us get darker and darker.

Last year Ezra wouldn't go anywhere NEAR the campfire at Mee Mee's house, so I was a little worried about how things would go down this year.

At first he was cautious...choosing to play with trucks by the lamp on the table instead of near us...

...but as it got colder....and once the marshmallows and chocolate came out, he inched ever closer until he was right at our feet!

Playing with trucks in the dirt and getting filthy was by far his favorite camping activity!

The fire dwindled down and everyone started yawning so we made our way down to the cozy warm tent.  

Despite Ezra's excitement about sleeping outside....in a sleeping bag....in a ten!  He dozed off under a cargo net full of glow sticks before we had even finished his first bedtime story. =)

Part Three: Enchanted Adventures!

The next morning we woke up bright and early 

(can you see our tent by the river?) 

when we discovered that we had VERY boisterous blue jay neighbors!

They sang and sang for some breakfast....some even got so bold as to try and STEAL their breakfast, right from the table!

We decided to keep them occupied by setting a table just for them a safe distance from our hot griddle. 

Can you see them all?  

And there were MORE!! 

After the bird show it was time for our first hike. 

Someone wasn't feeling very excited about exploring until I produced a scavenger hunt bag with the promise of a prize at the end.

HA! 

Our site was right next to the trailhead that started in a huge open meadow....

...and led us into a storybook grove....this picture can't even do justice to what we saw, but I love the dreamy feel Talin was able to capture.  

We used to play a board game when I was a little girl called "enchanted forest" and I swear if that game was based on a real place...this was it!

The forest floor was COVERED in clover....which luckily happened to be the first item on our scavenger hunt!

 WOOO!

We walked along oohing and aaahing; we talked and sang, and sometimes we trudged quietly as we climbed up and down steep rises in the road.  

Pretty soon we came to a river.....and of course....I waded in!

HA!

The boys thought I was nuts.....

...then Ezra changed his mind and came in too 

(can you see us?)

Back on the trail we found a sunny grove of giant redwoods....

...they seemed to go on forever reaching into the sky.

Randomly we stumbled upon a grove that was burned out and gnarled with age, creating strange rooms with windows and doors.  

We stayed and played "bear family" until Ezra's tummy started to growl....

...so we headed back home for lunch.

Part Four:  Leisure Time

After a delicious nap, it was time for CRAFTS!  

Wooooo!

I'd brought a bag full of ideas but Ezra reaaaaaallllly wanted to make rock pets......

....and in classic Jen fashion I brought EVERYTHING we would need....except paint brushes.  GRRRR!  

We improvised. =)

Next on our list....a bug hunt!  

Strangely, we walked alll over camp and only found ONE bug on our list!  

We ended up at camp store, and even though we didn't find any crawling friends Ezra found something he like even better.

Ha!

Back at camp I took an idea from my sweet friend Victoria and hid plastic buggy friends all around the site.

We spent a good hour taking turns hiding bugs, then picking them up with tweezers 

(hello fine motor skills!) 

and stashing them in his new bug keeper.

I headed off to make dinner while the boys played and played.

We had a delicious meal of campfire burritos (oh my YUM!), chips and guacamole. 

Then sat and talked around the fire again before heading for bed.

Part Five:  Leaving so soon

On our last morning, Ezra found a REAL bug to eat breakfast with us.

He named his little potato bug friend "newy" and he lovingly placed him in the bug keeper while we ate and started to pack.

I also found a buggy friend looking to stow away.....but I wasn't as happy about the THUMB SIZE SPIDER glaring at me from a corner in the tent!

Talin scooped him into a cup and the boys inspected his legs, eyes, and rump from the safety of plastic walls.

All too soon, the car was packed, "newy" was set free and we were ready to leave, but Ezra found time to make one last friend to play with! =) 

What a wonderful time in such a beautiful place.....and as an added benefit to this adventure....

...I do believe I've found the camper that lives deep inside this city boy!! 

=)