Kids, nature and some 4th of July crafts

We're back from our first (real) camping trip of the summer. I walked away with only three mosquito bites and perhaps an extra pound thanks to s'mores and beer, so I'd call it a success.

It's amazing to me how few behavior issues we have when the kids are dinking around with Mother Nature. I can't think of a single whining or fighting incident among the girls, and--believe me--we get plenty of that here at home. Does anyone else out there camp with kids? Do you notice the same thing?

Here are the girls preparing for a hike. So serious:

J setting up our temporary home:

 

See the lack of fighting over who got to get the newspaper off the front porch and who got to press the garage-door opener? Ahhh ... maybe we should live in the woods. 

 

Counting the rings on a tree stump:

Finding shapes in nature:

The last load of laundry is in the machine right now. Maybe tomorrow my hair will stop smelling like a campfire.

Back at home ... we made some 4th of July crafts tonight. This was a "cracker rocket," as the girls called it:

 

This is Bo's interpretation of the U.S. flag: 

 And this is Magpie's:

You need to see it from the side to fully appreciate it.

 Happy Fourth of July!    

  

Comments

[Tracey]

Such cute crafts! And YES on the attitude adjustments - I can't remember an argument ever while we're camping, either! By the way - I'm just finishing up the last layer of my 4th of July jello - love it! :) Happy 4th!

[mkpoggie]

That photo of your kids with their camelbaks is the best photo that I have ever seen of any person doing any thing at any time. So great.
Anyway, thanks for always sharing these activities with us. I'm going to go hug my tent mournfully now and hope my husband takes the hint...

[Megan]

It's so nice of you guys to look at those crafts and not say, yeah ... we're going to get our kid-craft advice from someone else. thanks anyway ...
Tracey, post pictures on Facebook when you finish your Jello! I can't wait to see it.
Thanks, mkp. I love that picture, too. I think you just coined a new phrase. Tent hugging instead of tree hugging (or in addition to). Love it.

[sarah]

so fun! i need to set up a crafting corner for the kids. we don't always finish or we don't always want to quit and i can't have the kitchen table a mess everyday!!!

xoxo, sarah
www.littlecitizensoftheworld.blogspot.com

[Jen Downing]

My husband and I have that tent too! Big Agnes right? does your vestibule rainfly zipper get stuck???

Cute kids, cute blog :)