Backyard camping.

A few weeks ago, R1, W1, and L1 spent the night in our tent in the backyard. They have been asking on and off all summer to go camping, but between moving and school we haven't been able to make it happen. Luckily, camping in the backyard is just as awesome to 4 and 3 year olds. They were giddy with excitement.


Now, this was stripped-down, bare-bones, spur-of-the-moment camping. We ate dinner inside like usual. No fire, no roasted hot dogs, no s'mores.

W1, who is eaten alive by mosquitoes on a regular basis, was sure they were attacking his eyes, and wanted bug spray applied directly onto his eyeballs.


L1 was a great help digging out all the mats and bags, until he discovered that the fleece sleeping bag in it's case could be worn like a scuba tank. Then he was lost in the deep sea of his imagination for the rest of the evening.



H1, desperate to join the fun, dragged a pillow from the couch all the way back to the tent. I managed to convince her that a night spent in her crib in the AC was really in her (my) best interest.



In the morning, there were breathless stories of captured dragonflies, fireflies, and midnight visits from unknown animals.

And pleas from W1 to sleep in the tent "tonight, and every night until it gets too cold".

I'm pretty sure it was a success.