We did it! Black Rock Mountain in a tent

We did it! After going back and forth about it for a while we decided to take both girl's (3 and 11 months) tent camping. We camped at Black Rock Mountain State Park in Georgia which is about a 2 hour drive from where we live in Atlanta. It was beautiful and amazing. The park is within a twenty minute drive of Tallulah Gorge State Park. There are maybe fifteen different awesome short trips you could take from this park including checking out the trail-head of the Appalachian trail.

(photo - you could pretend they are 'telling secrets' or something cute but really Ava is probably patiently lecturing Lilly about not eating her headband)

Well one thing we didn't anticipate was a little bit of a confusing check in which ended with us setting up in one of the private walk-up sites without water OR electricity. Once we realized that it wasn't worth moving everything but I think in the end the trade off of camping up in the trees all by ourselves might have been worth the 'walk up' and the mild inconvenience of less lights at night and washing dishes (just really a knife and cutting board) down at the pump by the bath house. The photos below shows one of the walk up sites and the short-cut path to the site we picked so you can see our hike with our gear wasn't too far.

We got some amazing 'camping with kids tips'! The glow sticks or glow in the dark pj's like we ended up with for the girls at night in case they wander off was brilliant. Freezing most of our water and using that instead of ice really helped us pack more in our one cooler. We pre-cut the grill meals we prepared and froze them then pulled them out the morning we were going to cook them to thaw. We did end up eating way more than we would normally at home - the extra food really helped! A hot breakfast was super nice after waking up in the tent and bringing a cast iron skillet that you can use over the fire and clean over the fire saves you lots of dishes. As always taking the time to ask the park staff about the easy hikes and shortcuts to do with the girl's was a lifesaver. Then we did the things we already knew about like bringing every medicine imaginable and buying the biggest tent we could find (my husband can stand in ours with clearance and it is 100 sq. feet) so that everyone could have a real bed!

(photo - I packed Ava's 'rescue pack' with a rope, binoculars, magnifying glass, notebook, pencil and water. She was really into being an 'adventurer'. It kept her hiking really long distances without asking to be carried! As soon as her legs started to hurt we would take a break and do some investigation or let her pretend to rescue an animal out of a tree with her rope, etc. 

(photo - this was the view above our tent)

(photo - steak, potatoes, etc. getting ready to go on the grill.)

(photo - Glowing skeleton pj's via Walmart - they really glowed!)

Still the tent sleeping wasn't easy for us with our apparently sub-par air mattress (working on that for next time) and Lilly was pretty restless with the fall leaves rustling and the new environment. She didn't take one nap in the tent for instance and she spent the second half of both nights collapsed over me on the air mattress...which was slowly deflating...

This huge suspension bridge spans the gorge - it was quite a hike to get to it with the kids but worth it!

(photo - one is SUCH a cute age!)

Oh! and we had intruders, raccoons we think - both nights probably because we have a group member that throws half of her food on the ground when she eats - thanks Lilly! We are working towards a bigger trip at Smoky Mountain National Park in the spring so we still need I would say two more short trips before then to get the kinks out.

Any more tips for us - share (as always) please!

Lilly's First Beach Trip - The Panhandle beaches are still beautiful

We visited my husband's parents this month and spent some time on Orange Beach in Alabama which is very near to Pensacola, Florida and along the path of the big oil spill. The beach was absolutely beautiful. It seems that for all the trouble they had figuring out how to stop the oil they haven't had any trouble figuring out how to clean it up.  After we moved away from home 8 years ago the thing I miss the most is the dreamy Florida Panhandle beaches with big sand dunes and sugary white sand that your feet sink into - heaven. 

Some shots from Lilly's first Beach Day

My swimsuit is hot. I know. Who is this a good picture of? I don't know.

Lilly was unimpressed. 

Ava was in awe. 

Lilly was tortured.

Ava was in sandcastle heaven.

Lilly tried really hard not to laugh. 

Ava tried really hard to run straight into the ocean as fast as she could without anyone stopping her. 

Getting There and some baby and toddler travel gear

So we will be in "hotel home" as Ava affectionately calls it until Tuesday unless this snow causes a moving delay. First, let me say that it is free, has a separate large bedroom and flat screen TV's in both rooms. There is a great free breakfast everyday and of course we get our room cleaned and beds made. It is getting kind of old though. Mostly I feel like I don't have much to do and getting the girls down the elevator with all their stuff is kind of a hassle. I am also still 'coming down' from a very intense job and so some days are feeling slow but not in a bad way, just different.

Photo: Ava and her new bff Jack at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History

We still manage to get out almost everyday while Joe works. I am getting pretty awesome at toting the girls around the city by myself. I do have some great gear though like the Baby Jogger City Mini  double stroller and an ERGO baby carrier with this infant insert. I use either the ERGO insert or the Snuggin Go to make the Baby Jogger appropriate for a two month old. I also have a good sling and diaper bag with stroller clips. The JJ Cole Bundle Me Lite  is saving our life in the cold weather. It isn't practical or safe to dress small infants in tons of heavy clothes so the bundle me light will keep the wind and rain off of them when you are running to and from the car.  The other thing I have needed is a warm jacket for me that is somewhat waterproof that has a hood because I can't manage an umbrella with both girls by myself.

Photo: Lilly in the baby jogger using the Ergo insert for support

I was a little worried it would take me a long time to feel comfortable enough to get out on the kinds of trips I would make with just Ava but I already feel just as confident taking them both out as I did just taking Ava. That probably says as much about how good of a baby Lilly is as anything else. She can go several days without ever crying. SERIOUSLY. When she does cry it is more of a fretting. She also eats every four hours during the day and goes a 9 hour stretch each night without eating during her... wait for it... 12 hour night time sleeping stretch.

Photo: Of course some days we just stay in and lay around ;) This is Ava's hair in its natural state. 

Is there anything kid or baby travel gear item that you can't live without? I really want to know I might need one! ;)

Mt. Dora Corn Maze

We headed over to Long and Scott Farms in Mt. Dora, FL this weekend for their 6-acre corn maze. They have a really impressive operation with the maze, hayrides, a huge slide entrance to the maze, and more. We had fun and here are some photos from our day ;)

p.s. yep it was hot, nope all the walking in the heat wasn't the best idea for a toddler and a 37 week pregnant lady - but we still had fun ;)

Do you have any corn maze tips or stories?

Stayed up late watching the rocket launch

We live about an hour from the Kennedy Space Center where we can still see launches racing through the sky. Tonight we stayed up late watching the Delta IV rocket launch ... never gets old.

I am going to file this under travel because if you are ever near Kennedy Space Center you should check it out. 

Yosemite - hiking with a baby

I have been to several islands in the Philippines, all over Florida again and again, to several islands in the Caribbean and some beautiful parts of Mexico, pretty much across the entire U.S. many times. Being raised by a family full of teachers meant long epic summers full of mountains, camping and big adventures. By far the most enchanting place I have ever been is Yosemite. There is something magical about it - as soon as you get there you 'get' why it has inspired Schools of Art and captured the attention of some of the most influential Americans. It is definitely one of those 'must-see before you die' places.

PHOTO: Found online - our pictures just don't do it justice - do a Google image search for 'Yosemite' if you aren't familiar with the site though. 

That being said it was pretty hard to take and 8 month old there ;) Thank heavens we bought an Ergo baby carrier - that saved our life!

PHOTO: Me, Ava, the Ergo

We underestimated how cold it would be there in April so I wish we had more warm hiking clothes. I also never considered Ava getting car sick (over and over again...) - even though in retrospect in makes a lot of since - she was down low and rear facing a seat while riding through insane mountains in the rental car from Sacramento to Yosemite - for some reason we thought taking 'Historic 49' was a good idea...maybe if you have 2 days to make the drive...

PHOTO: Cleaning Ava, the rental car seat, and the rental car up on the roadside the first of many times on 49

When we go back we will totally go just a month or two later so it will be a bit warmer but still cool. We will stay at Curry Village or Camp Curry. We spent a lot of time there but actually stayed at a nice little place right outside the park in Mariposa because Camp Curry was booked up by the time we were ready to make our reservation. The location of Camp Curry  hotel / lodge is worth the little bit of extra expense and it is the place to stay if you are really interested in hiking and getting out to enjoy the mountains.

PHOTO: Mother at Camp Curry around the turn of the Century. Camp Curry is Yosemite's oldest accommodation.

PHOTO: Ava and I eating in Camp Curry

They will give you a great map when you enter the park - find the Sequoia Groves and other major spots like half-dome right away so you don't miss the really epic spots in the park.

PHOTO: Joe in Mariposa Grove

You of course need layers, a great infant carrier and a well-thought out & stocked backpack to take an infant hiking but otherwise they love the attention and being outside. So it is a really great activity to do with a baby.
Curry Village has lots of different strollers and bikes with kid trailers to give toddlers a break from walking.

PHOTO: Ava peeking out in front of a waterfall in Yosemite

In all scenarios though you aren't going to get any serious climbing / hiking done with small children in tow but almost the entire park is outfitted for anyone and everyone to enjoy the amazing views - from bus trams that make regular stops around the park to boardwalks and railed steps up to some of the really good overlooks. None of the conveniences seem to detract from the 'wild' of the park or takeaway any of the mystery of Yosemite. 

PHOTO: A main road in Yosemite - hundreds of trails etc. stream off this main road through the park but it also means you can get lots of places by car and then get out and do short hikes. 

- Still Coming this week and all done with an infant or toddler - 

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