Family camping

We finally made it out camping for our first time as a family.  All summer we are pretty busy with the ride, but as soon as we were able we headed out for our first time camping in over 3 years.  Most of our friends with kids just said that camping is great for kids, except the whole sleeping thing, so we had just planned on the whole trip being a debacle regardless, thinking that anything other than that would be a victory.

So we headed out Saturday afternoon just after lunch with the hope that he would fall asleep on the way.  He did doze off, which allowed us to consult maps and decide where to go.  We headed up to the Jemez Mountains, just west of Los Alamos.  The advantage is it is only about 1.5 hours from Albuquerque.  The disadvantage is that it is only 1.5 hours from Albuquerque (more on this later).

Our big guy, looking older than normal because of his new haircut.

We rolled into camp about 3 pm after checking a few other sites.  We ended up at Redondo campground again, strangely fitting as it was the last place we had gone camping the summer before Connor was born.  We quickly set up camp, ate dinner (sans stove as we somehow overlooked this while packing), and then went for a nice hike.

Post dinner hiking

Everyone was pretty tired, so we all got into the tent and were on our way to sleep by 8 pm.  Just then a huge family in 3 trucks pulled up to the site across from us and began setting up.  It was probably 15 people, with at least 8 kids all screaming and yelling.  (This is why to head further away from the city, just reduces the chances that a bunch of bozos will camp next door). Despite this, we all managed to go to sleep relatively quickly.  BUT, Ali and I were awakened at 11:30 pm to the jerk neighbors across the way chopping wood.  Seriously, what kind of people have that little consideration?

Bedtime stories by the campfire.

But Connor was a champ, slept great, and we all had a fun time.  The only problem we had was it was a bit chilly when we woke up in the morning - about 40 degrees.  Connor was not a fan, and grumpily sat in a camp chair wrapped in a sleeping bag while we took the tent down and packed up.  All he would say is that he wanted to go home.  But we got on the road quickly and were back home by 10 am.  

Some things we learned: we need a bigger tent now (our 4 person is not quite big enough for the 3 of us), go further a field to avoid inconsiderate neighbors, and that camping is fun and we want to go again.