I went camping this weekend.  It started out just the grandsons and me.  I called my oldest and asked what she was doing.  I know that she has 7 kids right now and is always looking for ways to keep them occupied without killing themselves.  I asked her if she wanted to come along. 

We went to my favorite campsite.  Finger Lake State Rec Park.  It's amazing for camping with families.  It's on a lake (go figure), and they have a section cordoned off for swimming/splashing/general water horseplay.  They have a boat ramp and a day use area, which amazingly enough is by the swimming area.  And they have life vests available for boaters and swimmers.  Then there are the campsites.  One side is designated RV/Campers and the other side is designated tent camping.  They have outhouses/pit toilets.  But they are nice.  Cement floors, lots of toilet paper, well ventilated and the camp host cleans them twice a day.  Here's the best part, it's only $25 a night to camp.  It's safe, it's clean, it's family oriented.  And, you have have two tents and two vehicles per campsite, so, that made it even better. 

This weekend was a lovely weekend.  We haven't had many of those this year.  I was blessed two weeks ago, for a lovely weekend for fish camp as well.  That's about all the nice weekends we've had this summer, I think.  Amazingly enough, they have been on my long weekends, so I have truly been able to enjoy them. 

Anyway, I get there first, and pick an awesome spot.  Some shade, some sun, close to the toilets, and not too far from the lake.  So the boys and I set up my tent.  My tent is not one of those dome tents, that you can't stand up in.  I have the Sam's Club instant setup 2 room tent that sleeps something like 10 adult people comfortably.  I know this because I had 9 people of various sizes in there and we still had plenty room. 

My daughter made it there about an hour or so after me.  She got her stuff set up and the madness began.  We got our bathing suits on and went to the lake.  Let the kids splash/swim/cool off.  We get everyone into the appropriate sized life vest, and we let them have at it.  Other folks were there and of course they had cool pool toys.  We did not, because of course, I never bought any.  Silly Grandmama.  The littles finally got cold, so we headed on back to camp to cook dinner. 

My daughter and I pooled our food resources and I came up with a pretty amazing dinner.  And it pleased all 10 kids.  Seriously, all 10 kids enjoyed what they ate.  I had several pouches of freeze dried chili mac, hot dogs, and cup of noodles.  It was awesome.  Then it came time for s'mores/toasted marshmallows.  About this time I realize we are running low on a few things, so I head to the store to grab and a few things.  A few hours later, we finally get the kids down.  Who cares about the amount of sugar they are eating.  We're camping. 

When morning rolls around, neither one of us adults was really ready to take apart the camp.  It was such a nice day, that we decided we needed to stay one more day.  So, back to the store I went.  This time, I came back with pool noodles, because I rock.  We get the kids to the lake and my daughter realizes she is supposed to go to a birthday party.  Great.  Here's the thing.  They party is literally 8 minutes away.  She was calling to cancel, when she found out everyone else cancelled as well.  So, all 12 of us went to the party.  It was amazing.  They had a small pool, slip and slides, a little trampoline, and water balloons.  I stayed away from the balloons, and the kids did an awesome job keeping them away from me. 

Several hours later, it was time to go back to camp.  My daughter took the kids back to the lake, and I cooked dinner.  Here's the thing.  I had 2 pans, 2 coffee pots and a beach bucket that had no handle anymore, along with my cooking utensils, and I had 12 to feed.  This dinner was a veritable smorgasbord of camp food.  We had the requisite ramen and hot dogs, some more chili mac, mac and cheese, baked beans, and hot dogs.  I cooked in shifts and used the handleless bucket as a serving container.  By the time everyone returned, dinner was ready, and once again, all the kids had their favorites.

By now, the kids have made friends with other kids at the campground, and my daughter has made friends with their parents.  Oh, and my youngest daughter makes it out to camp to bring more clothes and meds for the boys.  It's a literal mad house.  Then we find out that one of my kids' childhood friend is camping there with her kids, so it grows even more. 

This is what camping is supposed to be.  Everyone having fun, making new friends, and memories.