Camping

A couple years ago we went camping in Ripon and to the hot air balloon festival Labor Day weekend.  We thought it would be fun to do it again and to invite a few friends to come along.  We had our camp sites booked and our group all ready when I got the phone call Thursday night that the camp ground in Ripon was CLOSED!! Yes they closed it because I guess branches were falling and there had been some structural damage.  We were so bummed!!! Well after much research we found McConnell State Recreation Area which is right next to Delhi about 25 minutes north of us.  Spencer had a job site he was working on in Delhi so he went and checked it out Friday morning. It was a miracle that they had 2 sites right next to each other, flushing toilets, showers and most of available labor day weekend on such short notice!  We were all very excited that our plans were back on to camp.  So us, The Hamilton's, The Callisters and The Chu's headed north for a camping adventure.  

 The kids had a blast playing all together! The adults had a great time too!

 After an awesome BBQ (thanks to cook Spencer) we went on a night walk all together.

 After a campfire and smors we got all the kids to sleep except Payton (poor Ryan) and had fun playing spoons and shanghai all together.  Friday night we decided that instead of doing the hot air balloon festival we all just wanted to hang out at camp.  We would have had to wake up really early to see the hot air balloons and since we were up pass midnight it made more since to skip it this trip.  Saturday morning we woke up and enjoyed breakfast made by Spencer. 

 The kids played while we all cleaned up and talked.  

 Then we ventured down to the creek.

 There were so many tadpoles and frogs it was too cool! Carter was the one that would catch them he was really into it!

 Then the kids went swimming....

 and some daddy's too.

 It was really fun camping with friends! 

There is a huge group area at this campground and we all had said it would be fun to try to get an even bigger crowd together next time and maybe make it an annual trip.