Our First Camping Adventure!

       Earlier this week we took our first camping trip!  We didn't go too far, we thought for our first trip we should stay fairly close to home just in case.  I mean we did just replace the transmission in Jeff's truck and we only got the truck back on the road a week and a half before we bought the camper. 
        So Tuesday after Shane finished his PSSA test the boys & I finished loading up the camper so when Jeff got home from work we could head out.  We got off to a little later start than we wanted because Jeff wasn't able to get the route that he wanted that day, but it really wasn't a big deal since we weren't travelling too far.  We got to the campground around 7:00 PM and we all proud of ourselves for getting camp set up before dark.  That's when things got a little interesting.
         I brought a Schwan pizza with us for supper that night.  They come on a little disposable pizza pan and fit perfectly in the tiny little oven we have.  20 minutes and we would be eating and no dishes to do!  Well, there was 1 major flaw in that plan.  The heating element is too close to use the disposable pans. About 5 minutes into the baking time we noticed a little smoke coming out of the vent at the back of the stove.  We didn't think anything of it since it was the first time we ever lit the oven.  We just assumed there was a little paint or dust or something.  A few minutes later smoke is rolling out of the vent, the kids are bailing out of the camper, coughing & rubbing their eyes.  Jeff grabbed the pizza out of the oven while I opened the windows & roof vents trying to get the smoke out.  The center of the pizza pan had burned away leaving only a 2 inch ring at the outer edge and the bottom of the pizza was like charcoal.  Hahaha.  Leave to me to catch dinner on fire! :)  First thing the boys said when they came back in was "So much for the new camper smell."  (They crack me up!)
         After that the trip got much better.  We went hiking and biking during the day.  We played board games and watched a movie when it got too chilly to be outside.  Wednesday evening we had a fire (outside this time) and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows.  We all had a great time and can't wait to go again!!

               I know it’s been a while since I’ve written anything in this blog.  Life has a way of getting really busy.  I’m sure you all know what I mean.  So I’ll catch you up on the major stuff and we’ll go from there. 

                In February we bought a camper.  We decided that we needed to spend more family time and this would be a great way to do it.  I’m sure this will lead to many adventures!  My family used to go camping all the time when I was a kid and we always had a great time. 

                   The boys finished up their bowling league and their team came in 2nd!  They did a great job and I'm so proud of all four of the boys on Team 8!  But I'm also a little sad.  I miss my Saturday mornings chatting and laughing with my friend Dawn.  Her son, Michael, is on our team.  So while the boys bowled we could have a couple of hours to sip coffee and talk with another adult.  (Something that we Stay-at-Home parents don't get to do often.)

                    March brought a couple weeks of unusually warm weather that allowed us to get a jump start on some of the Spring Work for the farm.  All the oats have been planted for this year and have already started to come up!  Hopefully we don't get too much more of the cold weather that has moved in for the last week so they keep growing.

                    We seem to be settling back into a routine again so I am hoping that I can get back to keeping my blog going.  As summer approaches farm and family life promises to get interesting.