Cama Camping

We got the opportunity to go camping this week at Cama Beach State Park.  I've always been intrigued by the cute little cabins, but never actually stayed.  I was really nervous going into things, I didn't pack ahead much, Dave had to leave early, and since we were going as part of a larger group of people, I was not sure what to expect or how to plan.  This last part was the hardest since lack of control  and not knowing what to expect makes me anxious, like super incredibly sick to my stomach anxious.

It was over 90 degrees when we got there.  Sometimes the fact that the Puget Sound is always really cold is a good thing.  Sleep was lacking the first night.  Eileen refused to sleep and then woke up every hour.  Robin woke up constantly as well.  Dave shared a trundle bed with Linus the first night since it was so stuffy and hot, the back bedroom was unbearable for him.  More room for me :)

The upside of the group we were with is that the majority are former camp staff (or the spouse of).  This meant there were lots of adults to look after kids. The adults actually played too. It makes me happy to know that all those kids are surrounded by positive adult role models.   I honestly didn't see Linus much while we were there.  He was too busy playing pick up games of flyers, football, soccer, capture the flag.  Linus was in heaven.  We also watched the sunset, singing the songs of Camp Gallagher.

I got to spend a little quality time with Linus at sundown.  Linus loved this plank he found until not too long after this picture was taken and he got whacked in the face.  At which point he cried to go home.


Eileen remained close to my side for most of the trip. She preferred to stay in the cabin, but also kept an eye on Robin.

I brought along some crafts/activities.  We made bubble snakes (Eileen couldn't do it and instead kept inhaling dish soap).  My niece and nephew and I constructed a tin foil river and raced sail boats made out of corks.  It was pretty fun and I was impressed by their engineering minds.

Robin was happy to hang out with us on the porch.  I asked him to say, "cheese," and this is what I got. I love the hand on hip action.

Alas, we cut our trip short.  On the third day, I was playing a game of kickball.  I let Robin kick and then ran with him.  Remember in my last post when I said I was clumsy and uncoordinated?  Well, I tripped and fell, taking Robin with me.  Of course this happened in front of like 30 people.  Completely embarrassed, I limped off the field and comforted my poor crying boy and wiped all the dirt and grass off him.  We returned to the cabin.  I cleaned my wounds, pretty painful ones on my elbow and knee.  I fed Robin lunch and put him down for a nap.  Not too long later, he started crying.  I opened the door to the bedroom and found what looked like a murder scene (feeding a baby red velvet muffins and strawberries will do that).  Robin was drenched in bright red vomit, the pack n play, bedding, and lovey were also covered.  It was at this point that I threw in the towel.  While a freshly cleaned Robin slept, wrapped in a spare blanket, I cleaned and packed.

I have no regrets about leaving early.  I was stressed about doing a night with cranky kids and final clean up by myself (you have to shuttle your gear, no cars allowed).  Eileen fell asleep for the entire car ride, once inside the house, she fell asleep on the couch.  We woke her for dinner and then she easily went to bed.  All the kids were asleep before 8 pm. They even slept in too! I don't think they could have handled another late night.

Now that I have been through it once, I want to make a few notes to myself:

• bring bikes for the kids to ride
• bring the inflatable raft
• get a cabin in the main group. who cares if they don't have their own showers?  Ours was "deluxe" but further away. 
• bring a cook stove.
• help Dave pack (he neglected to bring anything warm, including a sweatshirt or enough socks)
• don't clean crocs in the dishwasher.  I melted three pairs today.
• red velvet muffins are just cupcakes disguised as breakfast.
• do not feed the children anything bright red
• bring a well stocked first aid kit

Despite the fact that both Eileen and Linus asked to go home at some point, neither wanted to leave when the time came.  Eileen is already asking when we can go back to the beach cabin and if we can stay even longer.