Camping: Adventures in Joshua Tree

On our list of "Things to do before baby is born" was to take Makenna camping. We are a family of campers, but we hadn't gotten around to doing this when she was younger and with baby on the way it pushed us to just go. We had been anxious to try out our new two room tent! We packed up the car (luckily it had just enough room for our camping stuff without having to strap Makenna to the roof:-) and we were off on the hour and a half drive to Joshua Tree. We were excited because Great-Grandma, Great-Grandpa, Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie Becca, and Uncle Shawn all were going to be there camping. My grandparents had graciously gotten to the Jumbo Rocks campground in the morning and reserved spots for us because the whole park was full by the time we arrived at 5pm. We got the tent set up quickly and then Makenna had fun running around in it and pretending that she was "showering" (The divider in the middle reminded her of a shower curtain I guess).

I woudn't highly recommend being 8 1/2 months pregnant and tent camping, but at least we had an air mattress to help a little with the comfort. Our first night was a bit rough for all of us, with my tossing and turning and Makenna screaming out several times at night; but we survived. The next day we went hiking in the 100 plus degree heat. Who would have thought that it would be that hot in April. Makenna had a great time climbing the rocks

and hiking being carried on the trails.

Grandma, Grandpa, Autie Becca, Uncle Shawn and daddy went off real rock climbing,

while Makenna, Great-Grandma, and I went on a less strenuous hike

and then relaxed in the shade with Great-Grandpa for a while before the rock climbers returned. The second evening we had an awesome steak dinner, and Makenna and grandma went scorpion hunting with the black light. But unfortunately/fortunately they didn't find any. And of course it wouldn't be camping without roasting marshmallows and eating s'mores. Makenna made grandma hold her s'more so she didn't get her hands sticky:-) We decided not to sleep in the tent the second night so we headed off and arrived home just around midnight. We had a fun time and hopefully won't wait so long to take our little boy camping for the first time.