For the last several days, I've been living in a tent, cooking over a fire, and not bothering to brush my children's hair. No, we didn't suddenly become vagabonds. We celebrated Thanksgiving!
Our tradition, going back since I was a kid, has been to pack up and slip away to the woods for several days during this special holiday. No one has to worry about hosting a fancy dinner at their house (or even cleaning it for that matter). No one has to answer work email or phone calls (no cell service). Nothing but God's creation, plenty of play time, and of course, lots of food!
This year the involved families were: ours (Me, Seth, Noodle, Hopers, and Poppy the dog), my parents' family (Amie, G-Daddy, Tobi, Tabi, Teegan, Tate, and their 5 dogs), and Seth's sister's family (Jena, Dave, Kirsten, Katelyn, David and their two dogs).
We went to Aiken State Park in South Carolina. Originally, I was skeptical because 1. it wasn't booked up for Thanksgiving like every other state park in America, and 2. most of the reviews I read said it was "quiet", which in my mind translated to "ugly and boring."
My skepticism was for naught. It was gorgeous. The landscape reminded me of the rolling, hilly woodlands of North Florida. The park boasted of two small lakes and a winding little river passing through it. We soon discovered that, yes, it was quiet, and no, it was definitely not boring.
I think we were the loudest ones there.
 |
| Tate, Teegan, Katelyn, and Jena |
We played a few games of impromptu football and soccer.
 |
| Hopers, Tabi, Noodle and Tobi |
The kids roasted marshmallows pretty much any time they thought about it...which was whenever they were awake.
 |
| Dave and Seth |
The guys channeled their inner manliness and spent lots of time hunting down wood and chopping it for the fire.
 |
| Seth and Poppy (left). Poppy and Kirsten (right) |
Poppy enjoyed camping as much as the rest of us because she got lots of attention.
On day 2 we found a big tree to play in. It was my dad's idea: create a zip line for the kids. You know whenever my dad thinks about trees, it means my husband will
end up in the top of one.
Dad brought all kinds of climbing ropes and gear to play with. Everything was super-duper rated for holding up huge things. Like Tabi.
 |
| Me making a harness for Katelyn (left). Seth trying his own harness (right). |
I learned how to make a harness out of a single strap, some knots and a carabiner (Dad researched it and taught me). I became the harness queen, tying and untying straps on children as they took turns on the zip line. Seth thought it would be faster to use a ready-made harness, but after OW OW OW PUT ME DOWN he decided not so much.
 |
| Noodle, takin' a crack at it. |
Everyone took a turn flying through the air and loved it. Well, not Teegan and Tate. They declined in favor of staying close to the ground.
 |
| Hopers |
 |
| Katelyn zipping toward Tabitha. Aghhhhh! Tabi moved just in time. |
I decided I needed a turn on this crazy contraption. I whipped up a harness for myself (I knew all those hours of knitting would pay off!) and clipped in.
 |
| Me, David, Hopers, Katelyn, Tobi, Noodle, and Dave |
The kids thought it would be a breeze to pull me up to the highest point. (They ended up needing a little help.
Darn you, apple pie!)
 |
| Wheeeeeeeeeeee! |
Next to our zip line trees was one of the lakes. Did I mention this place was gorgeous? I managed to hold down a couple of girls for photo ops.
 |
| Noodle |
 |
| The girls. Aunts. Cousins. Tobi (9), Noodle (11), Hopers (6), Kirsten (13), Tabi (7), Katelyn (10). |
On day 3 we found the other lake and decided to do some fishing there.
It was pretty, but the only thing we caught were frogs. I think someone lied when they said the lake was stocked with catfish. Either that, or the catfish were smaller than the frogs.
 |
| Hopers enjoying herself while Noodle pouts about the fishing. |
We hung up our fishing poles in favor of a little canoeing. There were canoes for rent to either paddle around the lakes or to take down the river. My gang, plus David, were the only ones brave enough to travel a river in 55 degree weather, so we rented two canoes and jumped in to our little adventure. We brought Noodle's i-pod with its waterproof case with us to take pictures.
 |
| The river was beautiful, the water was freezing, and Noodle was REALLY nervous about the boat tipping. |
 |
| Me, Noodle and Seth were in one canoe. |
 |
| David and Hopers were in the other canoe. |
Being split up, we lost sight of David and Hopers for a while, as they were the first ones in the water. As it turns out, Hopers wanted to race us, but they spent a good amount of time getting stuck in low branches!
Every night, we settled around the fire after eating (way too much food).
 |
| Noodle, Seth, Tobi, and Kirsten |
The kids took to drawing and playing hangman in the sand by the fire and singing songs...
 |
| Tate and G-Daddy (left). Hopers (right). |
...and making silly faces....
 |
| Jena and Teegan |
...and telling stories....
...and giving the doggies some love.
Even with the temps getting down into the 20's on the last night, we all stayed cozy in our tents thanks to the great invention of the space heater.
 |
| G-Daddy with Tate's frozen pants that had been left out to dry. |
The kids all got along amazingly. The food was out of this world. We had our feast, of course, on Thursday, with turkey, fried fish, ham, sweet potatoes, broccoli casserole, macaroni and cheese, winter squash casserole, baked beans, rolls, green bean casserole, and pies. Then, on Saturday night, we had a chili cook-off between the three families. Jena made Green Bay Chili, which is a sweet and tasty beef and bean concoction served over macaroni noodles. Mom made vegetarian chili with a side of "Noodle's Chili" to please my picky daughter who doesn't like onions and bell peppers. I made venison chili, which has become a mainstay around my kitchen in the winter.
It was a really great trip. One of my top favorites ever, I think. The kids are all begging to go back there again next year. However, today is Monday. I am home and in the throes of a two-ton-truckload of laundry. The kind of laundry saturated with campfire-smoke-knees-in-the-dirt-playing-hangman-loving-on-doggies for five days. I am inclined at this moment to ban all camping
forever!
Good thing my laundry memory is short and my love for tradition is tall.
Happy Thanksgiving!
