Colorado Camping

We just got back from our first Colorado camping trip. Hard to believe it's our first, as we are pretty much in camping country and have lived here for ten months already. Then again, it started snowing eight months ago and still hasn't completely stopped so I guess it makes sense. Actually, it looked like it might snow this weekend. Or hail. Or thunder. All week, we kept checking an increasingly gloomy weather report. Then we woke up Saturday morning to sunshine, packed up the car and were on our way. (That isn't, I should mention, to say that it wasn't cold. It was sunny but cool during the day and then dropped to 28 degrees at night. But gathered around the campfire and then snuggled up in our 20 degree sleeping bags (and grateful for that extra eight degrees), we were always comfortable.)

Here's what I love about camping: No computers, television, or even cell phones; spending an entire day and night outside, under the sun or stars; singing and listening to guitar by the campfire; the s'mores of course, but also all the other food that tastes that much better when eaten in the fresh air.

Then, and because of all that I listed above, there's what Toby mentioned today: the whole slowing down of life that comes with camping. We kept talking about how strange and wonderful it felt to just sit in our camp chairs for most of the afternoon and evening. At home, there's always a million chores to be done, but when you're camping, there's no reason not to sit and just enjoy the fire and company of friends and family. It's such a wonderful way for our family to spend time together too because everyone is happy. I realized yesterday that Noni can spend hours throwing stones into water and all three girls can disappear into the tent for endless pillow fights.

My favorite memory from our trip is sitting around the fire after dinner - Bob and Toby were playing guitar, Max was playing drums, and they began to make up songs. Everyone contributed to the lyrics. At one point I looked around the fire and saw that everyone was laughing together. Cold or no, it felt like the way things ought to be.