Camping - Day One

Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon we went camping with the Gallaghers at Natchez Trace State Park.

We stopped at the Park Headquarters and all the children petted this corn snake!

The campsite we chose was right on the lake. 

Here we are setting up the tents. (You can see the water to the left.)

Moving in!

The little helpers were so adorable!

    

Our campsite was also next to this playground

The kids loved it!

I'm so thankful that we got to take Livy with us on this trip!

Emma was matching Aunt Amanda...

...and Nicolas was matching Aunt Sarah!

Nicolas and Patrick watch Uncle David start the fire

James and David

Dinner cooking!

Livy helps Emma get a drink

Four adorable children enjoying their dinner

After dinner we took a walk.

I love this bridge!

A group picture

Back at the campsite we roasted marshmallows.

Livy said her favorite part of the whole trip was the marshmallows!

Patrick

Nicolas

Emma

Spotlight on Aunt Amanda!



Time for bed for the little ones!


This was Livy's first time to sleep in a tent.  She told us it was more fun than sleeping in a camper!

Once the children were asleep we sat around the campfire and visited...and ate!

Midnight snack

Camping - Day Two

We all woke up bright and early because the birds were singing so loudly!

The early morning mist on the lake was beautiful!

Patrick took this picture

Our campsite was on a hill, so we could look down and see the swimming beach.

David and James decided to jump in and swim before breakfast.

Rebekah and Emma watch . . . 

. . .  and Nicolas, Amanda, and Patrick

Livy plays in the sand!

I thought this picture was so funny!
David, wet from the lake, chopping wood with a tiny hatchet!

Rebekah cooking bacon

Breakfast time!

Patrick enjoying his pancakes

Look at these sleepy kids!

Emma is disgusted that some syrup got on her pop tart!

Hope, Emma, and Patrick - This dock was at our campsite.

As soon as breakfast was over the rest of us went for a swim.  Poor little Patrick was not able to put his leg in the water because of some infected bug bites, but he was very sweet about it.

Patrick smiles at the swimmers

Livy trying to swim

James, Nicolas, Amanda, and Rebekah

Livy LOVES the water!

Emma looked so adorable in her life jacket!

James taking Patrick for a ride around the lake

Patrick pointing something out to Emma

David and James are crazy!

Water is so much fun!

Emma loved splashing!

Sarah and Emma splashing, and a game of "Monkey in the middle" in the background

Livy and me

Nicolas

We swam for about 2 hours and had the lake all to ourselves!!

At 10:00 we took a boat ride


Patrick and Amanda

Emma and Sarah

We passed this deer sitting on the bank

Livy leans over to give Emma a kiss


The kids were getting REALLY tired by this time!

When we got back to camp Emma took a nap!

She's so precious!

David and James got peddle boats for us to ride on and brought them up to our campsite.


The Gallaghers - minus Emma, who was still sleeping

David, Amanda, Deborah, and Livy

Once Emma woke up she got a ride with her brothers, Rebekah, and Sarah

Patrick wanted another group picture before we left, so here it is!

Livy was asleep before we got out of the park!