We have been wanting to go camping lately–now that we are in the US where it is legal and in Utah where there are some of the best outdoor rec options around.

My parents took me camping at the ripe age of 2 months old so we figured it is possible. Finally we set up the tent on Sunday in our backyard for a trial run.

First we decided to break Eden into the camping experience by having a little Family Home Evening inside. It only takes a second to throw together an FHE when we remember to do it. So we sang “Popcorn Popping” and Chad told us about how the people in the Book of Mormon set up their tents toward the prophet Benjamin so they could hear his words. It was a great tie-in for our upcoming General Conference weekend. Then we sang “Popcorn popping” again and had… popcorn for a treat. (Eden also asks us to draw popcorn, mold popcorn with playdoh, etc. She is very much into popcorn right now.)

We made s’mores over at the neighbors’ fire pit so we smelled perfect to try an outdoor sleepover.

Then came bedtime in the tent. It was so nice to all snuggle up together in sleeping bags and read a story. The crickets were providing excellent mood music and the fall weather made it feel like we were up in the mountains. We had forgotten how cozy it is in a tent. However, the tent became too exciting and after getting kicked in the face a few times we decided we had better call it a night. Eden was like a little popcorn kernel herself. Foiled!

Hopefully by spring we’ll be ready to try again.