A-Camping We Will Go

Every summer, our family and some family friends camp at various places in southwestern Colorado. One of our favorites is Echo Basin, near Mancos, CO. It is VERY kid friendly and quite affordable. And it has full hook-ups to boot! So we have electricity, water, and a dump for the toilet (invaluable when you have a 3-year-old who waits for the last minute to go potty).

Last year for Memorial weekend, it snowed about two inches overnight and it was miserably windy and cold. But, gluttons for punishment that we are, we decided to brave it again for Memorial weekend this year... and it was wonderful!! We did get the occasional rain shower, but that's nice because it just brings you closer to nature and God and the beautiful world that He created for us.

The kids love to go for walks and play on the merry-go-round and the grown-ups love to sit and relax and watch them.

These are our kids and our friends' kids (The Andersons) at the elk ranch right across the road from Echo Basin. It stunk REEEEALLY bad!! I mean BAD! Jayci's holding her nose. Here are some more from the elk ranch.


Chad bought some elk meat for hamburgers (elkburgers?) that night and I couldn't eat it! I've had elk before, but never saw one up close earlier in the day. It's easy to eat meat when you don't see it hours before you eat it. I'll try again another time. Maybe some sausage. Mmmm...sausage.

These are the same kids throwing rocks into a fishing lake. Don't remember what the name of the lake was, but the fishermen didn't seem too happy.

This is at a pond in the campground. Last Labor Day weekend, the water wasn't as high, so the kids caught crawdads (crayfish). Jayci remembered this and kept saying that she wanted to go catch "Dad Crabs."

My little Kammy Kam. Had to add this pic because it's just so dang cute. I pointed the camera at her and she just smiled like she knew she was supposed to. Adorable!

We went for a drive trying to find some different camping areas and some 4-wheeler trails and came across these Bison or Buffalo, or whatever you want to call them. Awesome!

They wanted to go swimming, but the pool was pretty cold, so they went hot-tubbing instead. Yeah, they were my kids were swimming in their clothes. I'll have to remember their swimsuits next time.

Papa, Jayci, and Daddy enjoying the weekend!

Well, I have some more amazing photos that I want to get posted another time. I think I'm going to have to start selling all of the beautiful photos I have. I love them. I wonder if anybody else will...

I'll post again very soon with all of the end of the school-year activities that the kids have done!