Rock Cut State Park Camping

Camping is something Marc and I enjoy but have only done a few times with the kids.  Prior to this weekend, we had never gone on a camping trip with just the four of us.  We had planned on going to the Indiana Dunes on Friday but when we saw the weather was going to be decent and also, when we realized we couldn't find a hotel for under $100 near the Dunes , we decided to attempt a last minute camping trip at Rock Cut State Park(can't beat $12/night!).  Since campground are pretty much booked up in the summer, we had to try for a walk-in site.  So we packed up Thursday night and left the house at 7 am on Friday morning to get there early (Rock Cut State Park is about 1 hour 15 minutes away).  After stopping through a McDonald's for breakfast, we got there at 8:30 am, and there was still 9 sites left!  We actually got a pretty nice site, with a view of the lake.  (Why didn't I take a picture!?!)  We enjoyed paddle boating around the lake, and then a trip to the local waterpark (Magic Waters), where we found out that Lydia though cautious about most things, LOVED the waterslides.  Joe loved the wave pool, and giggled everytime he got hit by a wave. Sleeping in the tent was fun.  We all got to listen to Joe sing himself to sleep.  The air mattress deflated during the night so I can't say I slept well, and the kids were up when the sun came up, so we were all a little tired on Saturday, but it was still fun.
Marc and I were lamenting how we always forget to take pictures, so we got a few in our last hour at Rock Cut, at a park by the lake.

Joe happened to be very crabby so I didn't get a real good picture of him, but he's kinda smiling.....

And Lydia just wanted to be goofy.

Within 5 minutes of our drive home, this was the view from the front looking back! 

I was feeling the same way! Good ol' fresh air (and not enough sleep) can really wear a kid out!

It was so fun to make these memories with the kids. We look forward to many more camping trip memories in the future!

Lately

The last week I've just been thinking about how the kids are getting so big and growing up!  A few months ago I had a friend tell me her favorite age for her kids was when they were 2 and 4(they are also 2 years apart).  I am seeing why.  They say and do the cutest things! Joe has been talking more and more, and thus has been much less frustrated.  And when he gets frustrated he'll even say "I'm mad!".  It's kinda cute (for now :).  Lydia has been growing in independence and is so much more expressive with her emotions (telling us often she loves us, and how she feels about certain things, whether they make her scared, surprised, happy, sad, etc.).  I wanted to blog this while it was on my mind.