A little bit of camping.

We took a little time away for a 1-night quickie camping trip last week. It was Mila's 2nd-ever time camping and what a difference a year makes. Last time, still gaining proficiency walking. This time, what walking?...my running, climbing, stuff-yo-face eating, BABY-IN-MIYA-BEYEE-TOO fun girl. We went to nearby Samuel P. Taylor State Park in Lagunitas. "You got the honeymoon site!" exclaimed the ranger at check-in; we laughed because with one child in the backseat and another on the way we've clearly already done some happy honeymooning. But he was right. We were so proud of our site number 11, seemingly just a fire pit and lockbox when you pulled up to it, but then take one step further and you're in a little redwood clearing that belongs to only you. Add to that a creek, a tin foil dinner, a s'mores meltdown, one filthy Baa, one filthier Elmo, and a tent outfitted with two air mattresses so that Wugs is now convinced she's going to be spending the night in a bounce house.

I call that successful camping. It's heartwarming to see it unfold--I'm a camping girl at heart. It's always been one of my favorite memories, both as a child and in adulthood, and I'm hoping to raise a likeminded girl.