Camping at Butano

My dad and I have been wanting to take the kids camping for a long time, but every summer something always seems to deter us. This summer we decided we were going to go even if it was just for one night. We reserved a campsite, bought food, dug out camping supplies, and then I started feeling sick. My mom wasn't feeling up to coming with us, so I thought about staying home with her. But, after much discussion I decided I wasn't going to get any worse, and I was going. So, I did.

No, my dad did not actually kiss the slug. Yes, I really did lick the slug. Hey, my brother dared me!

Our camping trip was a success! We hiked, we played games, we picnicked, we cooked food over a fire, we read Harry Potter by the light of a headlamp, and when it was time to go home the kids weren't ready to leave. Especially Landon. He loved camping! I'm glad their first experience was some real California camping. Sorry Texas.

Unfortunately, camping did not cure my sickness. By the time we were packed up and ready to go I was getting a very stiff neck (always the sign that something's not right). My dad had slept terribly the night before because he'd gotten claustrophobic in his tiny one man tent and ended up sleeping in his truck. Long story short, we were both kind of a wreck. We decided I should drive since my dad has been known to fall asleep at the wheel. I could barely turn my head to look over my shoulder. It was a long drive home.

But, before that long drive home I really wanted my kids to see Pigeon Point Lighthouse. It was just a couple of minutes away from our campsite. The lighthouse was quite a bit more run down than it was when I was a kid but it was still fun to walk my kids down memory lane and we all enjoyed the ocean air. Oh, and that bothersome cold of mine ended up not being a bothersome cold after all. Kaylee had kindly shared her pneumonia with me. Bleck!