We did our last family camping trip of the summer. This was our 3rd trip this summer. Brett and I didn't go the second trip due to rain. We had great weather this time. I usually sleep in the car with Jake while everyone else (except for my mom who also sleeps in a car) tents it. Brett and I usually are borrowing tents and sleeping bags but decided that if we are going to camp this much we really need our own gear. We got a tent and some really warm sleeping bags. I decided with all this new stuff I was going to tent it this trip. There is a new camp supervisor who by the way is a witch but switch the W for a B as we say to the kids, she informed us we weren't allowed to congregate in one campground. She tells us this after everyone set tents up the day before Brett and I got up there. So when we arrived we were shunned up a few campsites... by ourselves. This normally wouldn't be a big deal but I will be honest, tent sleeping freaks me out. There are signs all around that say, "This is bear country" and talks about how to keep food put away. Yeah, we don't do that. Brett is not a camper... he actually doesn't enjoy any of it other then he knows I want to do it because it's time with my family. Jake and Lydia fell asleep at the campfire so Brett and I said goodnight and carried our kids up a few campsites to our tent (Evie slept with the older girls where everyone else was). We climb in our tent, I got into my sleeping bag that was so warm and I was on a blow up mattress. It didn't take me long to fall asleep... then it was about 2 hours later, I didn't have a clock so I am guessing it was about 2:00 am. I woke up to these howling noises that I have never heard before. I called for Brett, who was awake already because he heard them too. I asked if he had ever heard noises like that on any of our other camping trips. He said no and wasn't sure what was making that noise. The howling continues and it literally sounds like they are within 50 feet of us. I walked the campsites earlier and saw a lot of dogs but the howling did not sound like it was a noise that would have come from anyone of the dogs I saw. I was freaked out. I thought I am not going to sleep all night now. I did finally fall asleep and what seemed like only a few minutes later, Brett was calling my name. He says that something was outside the tent smelling and nudged him in the back. We both didn't know what to do. Should we get out of the tent and head to the car. Do we yell for help. We decided to just lay there and be quiet. We must have fallen asleep because then I was woken up again by the same howling sound but this time it was way in the distance. Seconds later I see flashlights coming from my families campground and they were heading to the bathroom. I just kept thinking are they nuts... can they not hear that howling noise... why are they out of their tents. I didn't hear screaming so I assumed everyone made it back to their tents okay. After all, the howling was lots further away now. I kept praying for the sun to come up so I could just get out of that tent. I woke up and the sun was shining on our tent my kids and husband all sleeping sound now. After talking to the whole family that morning around the fire. Most of us heard the howling and no one was as freaked out about it as Brett and I were. Mostly because Brett and I had no idea what was making the noise. Everyone else knew what was making that noise... Coyotes. I have learned some things about coyotes now. Did you know that they are pretty shy and don't like fire and will generally stay away from campers. Did you know that there is a bounty on Coyotes in Utah, thats right $50.00 big ones for each one you kill. So for camping trips next summer I need one more item. A gun!!! Mama is going to make some cash.
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| I didn't take this picture but this looks like the animal that got up close and personal with Brett! |
Nana with all her grandkids except Zach's kids and Kingston was off some where and one child in the photo is a friend of Mikayla's but she is super close and we see her as one of our own anyway.
And on to the first day of school. I HATE this time of year. I hate my kids at school. I love my kids home with me.
Evie is in 4th grade this year and she wasn't super excited to go back but didn't complain at all and was excited to see friends. She does well with change and looks forward to doing new things. She is outgoing and makes friends easily.
Lydia is in 3rd grade this year. The tears started Sunday night and continued onto Monday morning. Lydia hates school... hates being away from home... hates being away from me. Lydia hates change and doesn't handle it well. She stresses about little things. She has lots of friends and they ran up to her with open arms. She didn't cry at school and went into class with a forced smile on her face. She wants to break down in this picture.
So another summer gone and a new year starts.... YUCK!!!
