Silver Falls was awesome! The kids did amazing camping. We had planned on staying 4 nights, but we lasted 3. It was FREEZING cold at night and the only people getting any sleep were Reagan and Jefferson, not surprising. I'm having a hard time posting because I took close to a million pictures and can't decide which ones to share. You probably think I'm posting too many... I don't think I put up enough. So, let me share in the fun...
Grant and Shawn setting up campI asked the kids to rate in order their favorite things about camping.
Starting with #1
The best part about camping.... playing in the dirt. Snow White would be so disappointed, I didn't wash them once 
Playing in the water was a close second. Jefferson is half fish, so he spent most of the trip sopping wet.
The next best thing about camping... SMORES, yeah! I bought 3 packs of marshmallows and 2 huge chocolate bars - GONE, all gone! We were eating smores at night and at breakfast. 
Playing in the water was a close second. Jefferson is half fish, so he spent most of the trip sopping wet.
The next best thing about camping... SMORES, yeah! I bought 3 packs of marshmallows and 2 huge chocolate bars - GONE, all gone! We were eating smores at night and at breakfast. Don't look too enthusiastic, Jefferson
Reagan kept begging for more and more, she was scarfing everything down. Until we noticed she wasn't eating them, she was just hording them from her brothers.
A problem arose with smores... Grant can't have graham crackers (wheat) or chocolate (milk). So, I credit Shawn with coming up with possibly the best idea ever.... SMONES. Shawn melted Grant's dairy, soy, and gluten-free chocolate chips and then dipped his gluten-free ice cream cones into them. He toasted his marshmallow, plopped it in the cone and enjoyed every bite.
Genius Shawn, pure genius!
Loves 'em
We had so much fun just sitting around the campfire!
Bacon, did someone say more bacon?
Bacon, did someone say more bacon?
Fishing! The boys have been asking to go fishing since May. Of course, there were no fish in the area, we asked. But the boys were so excited about it, we let them fish anyways. They were naturals at casting their poles. I thought it would last about 10 minutes, but they surprised me by sitting still with their poles for about 45 minutes, wow!
They have their own styles of holding the poles. Grant used the 'feet prop' hold and Jefferson thought he would catch more fish lying down. Both proved ineffective. 
Their next favorite thing to do was to go on bike rides. We couldn't get Reagan out of her seat. There were some nice bike trails. Too bad they were mislabeled... they forgot to post the sign that says "for single riders only, do not attempt if you are carrying or pulling other people!" We're talking steep steep hills! Shawn and I got enough exercise for a week. But it was fun, and the area was BEAUTIFUL!
The highlight of Silver Falls has to be the hikes and the waterfalls, or as Jefferson puts it "going on an adventure". The hike totals 8.7 miles and takes you through the park and 10 different waterfalls. We tackled half of the hike one day and the other half the next. It was AMAZING!
Here are 9 of the 10 waterfalls. We just couldn't walk a step further to see the last one. Obviously smashing all these pictures together into one really doesn't do justice to the beauty. You'll just have to take my word for it. We were able to walk behind 3 of them. Winter Falls was dried up, and Double Falls was just dribbling.
Jefferson showing off Lower South Falls. 
Looking at South Falls before we walked behind it
Behind the falls 
So there you have it, the kids favorite things from our camping trip.
Their next favorite thing to do was to go on bike rides. We couldn't get Reagan out of her seat. There were some nice bike trails. Too bad they were mislabeled... they forgot to post the sign that says "for single riders only, do not attempt if you are carrying or pulling other people!" We're talking steep steep hills! Shawn and I got enough exercise for a week. But it was fun, and the area was BEAUTIFUL!
The highlight of Silver Falls has to be the hikes and the waterfalls, or as Jefferson puts it "going on an adventure". The hike totals 8.7 miles and takes you through the park and 10 different waterfalls. We tackled half of the hike one day and the other half the next. It was AMAZING!Jefferson talked the entire time. I don't think we heard a moment of silence! This and That and phew, I think listening to him was more exhausting than the hike.
Exploring the caves behind one of the falls
The walk was too long for Reagan, so Shawn carried her. She LOVED being on Daddy's back. 
It wasn't all that easy for the boys either, but they did GREAT. Here is Grant at the bottom of the 186 steps he has to walk up.
Exploring the caves behind one of the fallsThe walk was too long for Reagan, so Shawn carried her. She LOVED being on Daddy's back. It wasn't all that easy for the boys either, but they did GREAT. Here is Grant at the bottom of the 186 steps he has to walk up.
Here are 9 of the 10 waterfalls. We just couldn't walk a step further to see the last one. Obviously smashing all these pictures together into one really doesn't do justice to the beauty. You'll just have to take my word for it. We were able to walk behind 3 of them. Winter Falls was dried up, and Double Falls was just dribbling.Jefferson showing off Lower South Falls. Looking at South Falls before we walked behind it
Behind the falls So there you have it, the kids favorite things from our camping trip.What I’ve decided…. Camping is the easiest vacation you could possible take children on. We have waited so long because we thought it would be H-E-double hockey sticks. We were crazy not to do this sooner. The kids were in heaven and Shawn and I could actually relax. We can't wait to go again!
3 comments:
How awesome! We just got back from camping too, how funny! It looks like you guys had a blast. Didn't that first shower feel so good though:)
I don't think there is such a thing as too many pictures on a blog, that's why I look at blogs. You guys look like you had such a fun time! I wouldn't have washed my kids the whole time either. So much fun!
How cool is that! U guys look like u had so much fun! I love your family! Thanks for getting me excited about camping! We are going this weekend for a family reunion and now Im super stoked to go play in the dirt! U guys r awesome!
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