Daddy + Daughter Campout

Allie and I went camping last night. You see, she figured out she missed the official daddy/daughter campout we usually do with other families each year. We were on a family vacation to see my sister where we... were camping in Wyoming. She has reminded me ever since that we missed the campout. So I promised her I would take her on a special campout- just the two of us and I promised that I would take her before the Father-Son campout (um, next weekend). I had found a nice spot behind our house in the wilderness area, but she wanted to "go see nature" and I guess our desert looking mountains don't count. (She has been watching Bambi so she knows what nature looks like I guess).

We had such a great time! I'll describe our adventures just so she and I can remember the campout- so if the travelogue gets old, just skip to the last glamor shot.

To Allie:

I picked you up from Kindergarten Friday after school- we were both super excited to go. I had a chance to speak with your teacher Mrs. Chevalier who said you were super sleepy today at school. You got up this morning at 5:20 when you heard me get up. I asked you to finish your homework before you played pbskids on the computer. Everyone else was still asleep. I went and cooked breakfast for the Seminary kids and you were still the only one up at 7:30 when I got home. After school I spoke with Mrs. Chevalier who said you had to go to the nurse's office because you were so tired and they thought you might be sick. You didn't have a temperature and wound up taking a nap in the nurses office for quite a while. You ran up to me, gave me a big hug and we were off.

I played John Denver's "Aye Calypso" which you and Luke love. It is Grandpa Payne's CD really, but we seem to play it whenever we go camping so I knew you would love it. You made me play it over and over and over again. I don't think I have played that song since last time we went camping as a family.

I wound up being the sleepy one. We pulled over at "10 Point," a little general store just south of Chilile, NM to buy sunflower seeds so I could stay awake. We wound up buying a few ice cream bars and ate them on the picnic table outside the store.

You thought the very first pine trees you saw looked just fine and wanted me to pull over right there. Instead we kept going and finally made it to the 4th of July campground west of Tajique, NM. We walked around a bit- there was only one other person in the entire campground of 20 or so spots. We found a branch with no one else and set up our tent, lit a fire and started dinner. I brought a chess board and we played chess together. We drove through a forest fire burn area (Trigo fire) and after watching Bambi, you were pretty concerned about our campfire. You had a lot of fun playing on the sleeping mats and just messing around. Our dinner was re-hydrated vegetable lasagna- your dad is not much of a cook. You were brave and told me "dad don't worry, I'll go to the bathroom by myself, you can stay here."

We brought some big marshmallows and found a stick that I carved for you to roast them on. You figured out how to make them golden brown and super good. I told you the requirements to be an official camper girl. You had to help dad set up the tent, know how to sleep in a sleeping bag, know how to throw sticks in the fire, go on a hike, and a big surprise requirement too. It grew dark and you were super excited for the surprise I had for you. It was the last requirement to be an official camper girl: your own flashlight. I gave you the present which you thought was super cool.

We went to bed and I told you a finger puppet story on the side of the tent about a dog chasing a rabbit. The dog's owner finally busted the dog and let the rabbit into the house as his pet. We went to bed nice and cozy in our sleeping bags. It was super cold that night and you woke up in the middle of the night and wanted to trade bags (you had mom's warmer one). It was freezing, I was really cold and I never get cold camping. We wound up zipping our bags together and snuggling to stay warm.

Saturday morning we woke up and slept in as long as we could so the sun would shine on our campsite. I got up and made some hot chocolate and we packed up a bit. We had instant oatmeal for breakfast then decided to go on a hike. You packed some snacks in your school backpack, a bottle of water, and you wanted to bring your new flashlight with you in the pack as well.

It was still super cold so we both dawdled along the trail. You wanted to stop about every 200 feet and eat a snack- so we did- this was your campout. We came back finished packing up and left camp. We drove the long way home on a dirt road that took us over stream crossings, through meadows and by beautiful terrain. On our way into Torreon, we saw two turkeys and rolled down the window and heard them gobbling.

I took this photo of you before our hike. You have on everything warm you brought (sweater shirt, fleece, your cousin's winter jacket, two hats & gloves. You thought it would be cool to do a photo like the models do- looking back at the camera with a serious look. Great job model Allie!

We had a great time Allie- I'm glad we had some time to spend together "in nature" as you say.

Love,

Dad

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