So a couple weeks ago, Our Family Unit decided to attempt something that we’d never before done…the all-American Family Campout!  Of course we wanted to do it in style, so we rented a little 18′ expandable camper trailer to pull behind our Jeep.  If you could have seen the pile of “essentials” that we packed into that 18′, you would have thought we were reenacting the Lewis & Clark expedition.  Instead we opted for visiting the Giant Sequoia Trees and Yosemite Valley for a week long trip without cell phone reception.  Hallelujah!  I’m not saying I would ever want to give up “my” internet forever, but it was quite freeing just lazing the afternoon and evenings away playing cards, reading books and chatting around the fire.

We loved our little camper!  Kyle and I tend to convince ourselves that we are really a lot greater in our imaginations than in reality.  So it was fun to think that we were the most prepared, most experienced, most knowledgeable campers around; when in reality we were just having fun figuring out how everything worked.  How long does the hot water heater have to be turned on before you can take a shower?  Sitting on the toilet and wondering “Did I remember to turn the water pump on?”  In Sequoia, everyone warned us about bears, bears, bears.  So each night we had to decide if an item was “smelly” enough to get locked in a bear box, in the process needlessly unpacking our cupboards and coolers.  But we had a good time, nonetheless.  I mean, you never know when this info will all come in handy down the road, right?

Kyle’s parents were even fearless enough to make this trek alongside us, braving days in the wilderness with babies and toddlers and lack of schedules.  Thanks to them we ate delicious steak, lost at Phase 10 and were never wanting for a “wagon puller’.  The kids LOVED having them there and we had a great time with them, learning from the camping pros.  This is them with Kade and Berlin in front of the largest living thing on the planet!

Here Kade and Berlin and I are standing in front of the nations Christmas tree, General Grant.   (I didn’t even know we had one of those until this trip!)

Although our family of 6 stood inside this fallen tree trunk, you could have literally fit an entire family reunion in there.  M A S S I V E!

One night we went to an old logging site where these giants were felled over 100 years ago.  It was a bit of an adventure, involving 4 wheeling in a KIA, but we made it.  It was kind of eery to see these huge stumps scattered over the meadow.

The Sequoia’s don’t grow in “groves” per se, but this was a small bunch we drove by on our way to drive our Jeep through a tree.  My hubby and father-in-law are both over 6′ and you can see how small they are in comparison (they are in the lower right corner).

We also made the crazy climb up Moro Rock where we were REALLY glad someone had gone to all the effort of cutting stairs out of the granite rock and adding hand rails.  But the view up top was truly spectacular.

This is my wacky husband’s contribution to the internet craze of planking – I was not here when this happened, I cannot be blamed.

Back at the campsite, we were all livin’ the dream.  Without a doubt, we ate like kings.  My gift to myself for camping was this cookbook, Campfire Cuisine.  It turned out to be GREAT!  Our favorites were Salmon Cooked With Curried Couscous, Curried Chicken Salad Sandwiches, and Savory Cheese S’mores.  If you’re going camping…make the investment. 

Kade loved being at the campsites, climbing big rocks and making friends with everyone that passed by.  He really thought he was big stuff driving Opa’s RV.

Berlin did better than I had hoped, sleeping on the dining-room-table-converta-bed and taking most of her naps in a car seat.  The princess lived most days in her “carriage”; playing, eating fruit loops, trying to scoot and waiting for someone to pull her around.  This is literally our most used piece of baby equipment.  It’s like a portable pack-n-play, stroller, cargo wagon and pull toy all in one.  Did I mention it has shade and is collapsible??

We packed Kade’s tent and a few special “camping toys” and set up his own play area.  Kyle found this Lego Camper Set that he decided Kade needed to have.  I thought it was absolutely over the top and that Kyle was just spoiling him, but then found this set of Kid’s Camp Supplies that I figured Kade couldn’t camp without.  The lantern even turns on!  So perhaps we were a bit overly excited.  Either way, I also made him a Camping Felt Game to take in the car (I’ll try to get a post up about that soon.)

After the Giant Sequoias, we were off to Yosemite.  It was absolutely gorgeous and we were blessed with beautiful sunny weather to enjoy it in.  Above is Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls.

We ate lunch at the stunning Ahwahnee Lodge which is nestled up against the cliffs.  If you go, don’t miss this beauty.  It’s as impressive inside as it is out.

Kade, our strong man, loved the hikes to the waterfalls and showing off for anyone that would pay attention.

Occasionally, Berlin was generous enough to share her ride.

All in all, we had an amazing vacation with amazing people.  We cannot wait to do it again!