Camping with the Kniola's
January 3rd, 2011
We arrived at Fish-Easting Creek Outpost up in the Palmdale
area this past Thursday to enjoy some serious primitive camping, and
definitely that it was.I will have to admit, getting ready for
the camping trip was quite an effort. The supplies filling every inch of
space in the truck ended up as only one ton of over the two I thought. Our
four boys, friends Mike and Julie, their daughter Kayla, our two
neighbor girls, sisters Sarah and Kacie, and myself planned this camping
trip in honor of the birthday girl Kayla, who turned 11 on December
31st.
The campground itself is very nice upon arrival but quickly came to disappointed at the site we had picked out was not what we expected. "The pictures on the website didn't look like this!" The site was really weird, almost like small loop surrounding a big mess of branches and shrubs set dead center and a fire-pit off to one side. Choosing a spot to put a 14x14 tent we had was quite the struggle.
Already tired and my five year old whiny as can be as it was his nap-time, we began unloading for what I thought would be fun to set up and get organized. I so much love challenges, I just wish the kids did too. Well, it didn't go too well with four boys having no idea what to do as the fights broke out, the teasing, and my yelling really got us nowhere. I was so frustrated trying to set up telling myself I would never again do this alone with four boys again!
Thankfully Julie came to the rescue as she threw our tent together in a matter of minutes as I was reading the directions trying to stay ahead of what she was doing. Finally I gave up as she put that tent up in a blink of an eye with Daniel and Nickolas at her side. Thanks Julie!
As things settled down, I tried to explain to the boy's how important it was to help me try to get organized because once we set up, it's all fun and play. They tried, I know, and I kind of feel bad for hollering at them to help when really it was their first time doing so.
That afternoon was filled with walks checking out the campground and fishing off the lake. All seven kids were in heaven as my oldest son kept saying "Thanks Mom, I love you." Which is every Mom's dream, very sweet.
The night came quick as we began the old hot-dog over the campfire dinner along with chips, more snacks, and ending with yummy s'mores. Camping with friends was great but make sure your sites are open to one another before you book. Our site was next to Julie, Mike, and the girls but we were unable to see them over all the brush and trees, not quite what we all had in mind camping together.
The night wrapped up by 9 o'clock, everyone was exhausted, including myself. All the kids were tired but extremely happy to be there, thanking me some more before drifting off to sleep.The night was chilly but not as bad as I thought it would be, it was the highway filled with tractor trailers, cars, buses, you name it passing as it seemed right next door to our tent. What a bummer. Our sleep was definitely not as sound as we had hoped, even with our battery operated fan we brought. We couldn't even hear that! I had no idea that highway 27 was less than 500 feet from our site.
The morning came and the first thing out of every one of us was the highway and how it ruined all of our sleep. I don't want to sway anyone from this place since it is very nice but a different campsite of at least more distance from the highway is definitely needed on the next trip.
After a wonderful breakfast of eggs, sausage, and bacon cooked by Mike, we headed off for Kayla's birthday party at the Gatorama just two miles down the road. And what fun that was! It was not only very entertaining for the kids, but the guide was very informative as she took her time with us and Kayla since it was her special day.
By lunchtime they catered us hot-dogs, drinks, chips and candy at the front pavilion so we can celebrate Kayla's birthday. As we all sang Happy Birthday and ate cake watching Kayla open presents, the guide brought us a baby alligator to hold. The kids were thrilled!
Later that day, thankfully after getting Matthew a nap and myself a little rest, off to hiking we go. Now this hiking trail they have is something you have to keep your eye open to or you could get lost very easily. They only have trees with orange or pink plastic ties as a guide separated by many trees apart and the trail in my opinion not very noticeable, yet very pristine.
Along the trail, I hear Matthew scream," Mom, Mom, deer, deer!" And deer they were. I saw two jump the fence but Daniel saw a total of eight. That was pretty cool.
One special moment I caught was with my son Nickolas, Sarah and Kayla, walking together like friends forever talking about anything and everything singing songs in between. It was too cute.
Kacie and son Benjamin had fun too but they were the quiet little mice taking in everything nature could bring.
New Years Eve was now falling upon us as Mike heated up some chili as I satisfied my kids with Beefaroni and grilled cheese sandwiches. That night seemed quick too. Probably because I had to check on the kids every 5 minutes now that the campground had filled up with many more campers. Having little ones, you can't walk away for a moment of relaxation. Thankfully, Mike,Julie, and I took turns through-out the night checking on the kids making my night more pleasant as I got to enjoy a little adult time.
I myself was determined to make it to midnight and so did all the kids, but one by one they all started to drop like flies, the last two standing were my oldest Daniel and myself. We sat up until midnight by the fire then in our beds by 12:01. That night I slept great until six and everyone else by seven, even as freezing as the night was. I was surprised I slept that hard with all the traffic.
"Happy 2011!" I wished the kids one by one as they woke up. Again, Mike fixed another big breakfast as I settled on some cereal . Shortly after breakfast, packing up was as hard as the unpacking. More stress on trying to get the kids to help but I finally managed to get them to relax, listen, then everything went smoothly. We were packed up by 9:30 and ready to go!
Before we left, we had already discussed coming back for for a couple more nights before summer, even as we complained about that darn traffic noise. We picked out some open primitive campsites that had a shower house just a very short walking distance from the sites. To me, with four boys, that's important. I don't care how primitive we try to make it, I need some convenience here!
So there you have it, camping with the Kniola's. I hope you enjoy my little enjoyment's in life as I am so grateful to be able to share them with you.
Happy 2011!
The campground itself is very nice upon arrival but quickly came to disappointed at the site we had picked out was not what we expected. "The pictures on the website didn't look like this!" The site was really weird, almost like small loop surrounding a big mess of branches and shrubs set dead center and a fire-pit off to one side. Choosing a spot to put a 14x14 tent we had was quite the struggle.
Already tired and my five year old whiny as can be as it was his nap-time, we began unloading for what I thought would be fun to set up and get organized. I so much love challenges, I just wish the kids did too. Well, it didn't go too well with four boys having no idea what to do as the fights broke out, the teasing, and my yelling really got us nowhere. I was so frustrated trying to set up telling myself I would never again do this alone with four boys again!
Thankfully Julie came to the rescue as she threw our tent together in a matter of minutes as I was reading the directions trying to stay ahead of what she was doing. Finally I gave up as she put that tent up in a blink of an eye with Daniel and Nickolas at her side. Thanks Julie!
As things settled down, I tried to explain to the boy's how important it was to help me try to get organized because once we set up, it's all fun and play. They tried, I know, and I kind of feel bad for hollering at them to help when really it was their first time doing so.
That afternoon was filled with walks checking out the campground and fishing off the lake. All seven kids were in heaven as my oldest son kept saying "Thanks Mom, I love you." Which is every Mom's dream, very sweet.
The night came quick as we began the old hot-dog over the campfire dinner along with chips, more snacks, and ending with yummy s'mores. Camping with friends was great but make sure your sites are open to one another before you book. Our site was next to Julie, Mike, and the girls but we were unable to see them over all the brush and trees, not quite what we all had in mind camping together.
The night wrapped up by 9 o'clock, everyone was exhausted, including myself. All the kids were tired but extremely happy to be there, thanking me some more before drifting off to sleep.The night was chilly but not as bad as I thought it would be, it was the highway filled with tractor trailers, cars, buses, you name it passing as it seemed right next door to our tent. What a bummer. Our sleep was definitely not as sound as we had hoped, even with our battery operated fan we brought. We couldn't even hear that! I had no idea that highway 27 was less than 500 feet from our site.
The morning came and the first thing out of every one of us was the highway and how it ruined all of our sleep. I don't want to sway anyone from this place since it is very nice but a different campsite of at least more distance from the highway is definitely needed on the next trip.
After a wonderful breakfast of eggs, sausage, and bacon cooked by Mike, we headed off for Kayla's birthday party at the Gatorama just two miles down the road. And what fun that was! It was not only very entertaining for the kids, but the guide was very informative as she took her time with us and Kayla since it was her special day.
By lunchtime they catered us hot-dogs, drinks, chips and candy at the front pavilion so we can celebrate Kayla's birthday. As we all sang Happy Birthday and ate cake watching Kayla open presents, the guide brought us a baby alligator to hold. The kids were thrilled!
Later that day, thankfully after getting Matthew a nap and myself a little rest, off to hiking we go. Now this hiking trail they have is something you have to keep your eye open to or you could get lost very easily. They only have trees with orange or pink plastic ties as a guide separated by many trees apart and the trail in my opinion not very noticeable, yet very pristine.
Along the trail, I hear Matthew scream," Mom, Mom, deer, deer!" And deer they were. I saw two jump the fence but Daniel saw a total of eight. That was pretty cool.
One special moment I caught was with my son Nickolas, Sarah and Kayla, walking together like friends forever talking about anything and everything singing songs in between. It was too cute.
Kacie and son Benjamin had fun too but they were the quiet little mice taking in everything nature could bring.
New Years Eve was now falling upon us as Mike heated up some chili as I satisfied my kids with Beefaroni and grilled cheese sandwiches. That night seemed quick too. Probably because I had to check on the kids every 5 minutes now that the campground had filled up with many more campers. Having little ones, you can't walk away for a moment of relaxation. Thankfully, Mike,Julie, and I took turns through-out the night checking on the kids making my night more pleasant as I got to enjoy a little adult time.
I myself was determined to make it to midnight and so did all the kids, but one by one they all started to drop like flies, the last two standing were my oldest Daniel and myself. We sat up until midnight by the fire then in our beds by 12:01. That night I slept great until six and everyone else by seven, even as freezing as the night was. I was surprised I slept that hard with all the traffic.
"Happy 2011!" I wished the kids one by one as they woke up. Again, Mike fixed another big breakfast as I settled on some cereal . Shortly after breakfast, packing up was as hard as the unpacking. More stress on trying to get the kids to help but I finally managed to get them to relax, listen, then everything went smoothly. We were packed up by 9:30 and ready to go!
Before we left, we had already discussed coming back for for a couple more nights before summer, even as we complained about that darn traffic noise. We picked out some open primitive campsites that had a shower house just a very short walking distance from the sites. To me, with four boys, that's important. I don't care how primitive we try to make it, I need some convenience here!
So there you have it, camping with the Kniola's. I hope you enjoy my little enjoyment's in life as I am so grateful to be able to share them with you.
Happy 2011!
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