Happy Campers

It turns out my fancy-pants, I-love-things-that-sparkle, pink-and-purple-are-the-only-colors-that-matter girl has, at long last, found her fleece-clad, North-Face-trumps-kate-spade (gasp), Pacific Northwest, outdoorsy roots. Last weekend (well, the weekend before--welcome to my topsy-turvy world where I write posts over the course of multiple weeks), Chris took Charlotte camping. The annual trip, organized by the local Baptists but open to us Presbyterians, took place about an hour or so away.

I'll say it: Charlotte is an outdoor girl.

Fortunately, Chris is open to being dirty and cold just for fun, so she'll always have someone to be . . . outdoorsy with, so long as she's not too cool to camp with Dad.

The night before they left, we got out the (brand new) camping gear. Charlotte was so excited, she vibrated with giddiness, a grin stretched from ear to ear. She took a practice climb into her sleeping bag and squealed in excitement and delight. When Chris did a practice run setting up the tent in the house, Charlotte damn near imploded with anticipation.

Chris planned to pick Charlotte up from school early, soon after her nap. According to her teacher, it was almost impossible to get her to sleep, because she was just! so! freaking! excited!

FINALLY, my two CHs (my pet name for the two of them, seeing as how Chris and Charlotte Hofmann share their initials) were on their way. The weekend was packed with activity.

Charlotte's first s'more. She also reflected her father's obsession with lighting, keeping her marshmallow treat properly lit at all times. And yes, that IS a princess chair that has proven to be a surprisingly worthwhile $11 spent at Costco.

Chris kept Charlotte up waaaaay past her bedtime, which apparently resulted in her eventually asking to go to bed. This was a very exciting bedtime for her, though, because she (a) got to sleep in a tent, (b) had a princess sleeping bag to crawl into (she picked it out), (c) got to wear her new "winter" (read: fleece) cupcake jammies that she had pined to wear for months , and (d) got to sleep right next to Daddy.

She fell asleep approximately 22 seconds after lights out.

In the tent, seconds before lights out.

Apparently Chris got a bit chilly that night, seeing as how temperatures dipped into the high 40s, but fortunately, his wise wife packed a heavy fleece blanket for her CHs. Charlotte, however, stayed perfectly cozy, which tells me Daddy likely shared the blanket. That's good. 

The next day, Chris and Charlotte went on a hike--a two-mile hike. Some of it involved climbing a very steep hill with no path, and according to Chris, our gutsy girl would trip or lose her footing, fall down, pick herself right back up, and continue climbing. She did the whole thing.



Later that day, some folks were going on another hike. Chris figured Charlotte was wiped out from the first one, but she said she wanted to go. He agreed, planning to turn around when she got pooped, but she finished that hike, too! We had no idea that child had a knack for hiking. I sort of want to buy her a pair of hiking boots. Mommy may not be an outdoor girl, but she knows an opportunity for a new outfit when she sees one.

 

Hiking.

It probably goes without saying that Charlotte slept tremendously well that night. Chris, meanwhile, enjoyed the hiking, being outside, and campfire. He did, however, mention that drinking a beer in front of the fire would have made it perfection, but alas.

That's what you get when you camp with Baptists, dude.

On Sunday afternoon, two dirty, grimy, happily worn-out campers returned home, and Lorelei was ecstatic to see her sister---and vice versa.

And on Monday, Charlotte couldn't wait to tell teacher and friends all about her camping adventure with Daddy.