"Cabining"

Cabining or what our girls like to call camping in Arkansas was a success.

"Mom let us get dirty. She didn't even care if our clothes got ruined!"- Madison

"Having s'mores, fishing, the raccoon that liked to come and scare my mom, walking in the woods and learning how to fish with my dad!"- Madison

"Fishing MomMom, swim dake poo!" (Decoded: Fishing with mom; and swimming in the lake/ pool."- Lillian

"Tacuk! Nacks! Dog, dogs!" (Decoded that would be: Chocolate s'mores; snacks; and hot dogs)- Lillian

"I loved swimming in the lake and catching the football."- Hannah

"Learning how to fish with Daddy."- Hannah

I do not think I have seen the girls or Chad smile that much or that big in a long time.

We met our friend Brandi and her new hubby Adam and his two boys down in Wynne, Arkansas in Village Creek State Park. We rented a two bedroom cabin for two nights and hauled in our food to supply our two family's every need!

The five kiddos got along right away and started playing in the dirt and grime. I pulled out my bug spray and sunscreen, slathered them up and sprayed them down and they were good to go! It was a constant in and out of the cabin to cool off. The weather was HOT and HUMID. The temperatures hit the 100s and the humidity was in the 80% while we were there. However, that was not going to stop us from fishing, "hiking", BBQing and swimming in the lake.

Our evenings and mid-afternoons (peek of the heat times) were spent playing UNO and other card games in the cabin or making yummy hot dog lunches as a group. The adults were able to put the kiddos to bed in the rooms and have time playing SKIPBO into the wee hours of the morning and just talk and talk like college kids (though we are all long past those years now).

The kick off for our summer was wonderful. Our girls learned how to fish (and are really good at it), they finally got to "camp", they are learning how to get totally and completely dirty with mommy's permission, staying up past seven in the evening, getting to eat s'mores and junk food because they can not because it is a special occasion, learning that life is not always on a schedule and routine and getting time as a family and time with friends.

That is a great way to start a summer. Not sure I am ready for another "cabining/ camping" trip this summer, but next year... FOR SURE!