Tommy has been obsessed with the VW Vanagon since he got to ride in one owned by his coworker. He would troll Craigslist from Minnesota to Oklahoma because someone in our family would be able to check it out if we found one to buy. I was adamant against it because where do you put car seats?
Finally, I realized he really just wanted something that we could do as a family - something that we could build memories with for our kids. I've always liked camping so it wasn't that I was against camping but I just didn't see how a Vanagon was practical for our soon to be family of five. Then I thought, how about a pop-up camper, and Voila! suddenly we owned one! Seriously, just like that Tommy found one he wanted, bid on it (he also trolled ebay) and won!
During our family vacation to Arkansas over the fourth of July, he and his dad drove to Ada, Oklahoma to pick it up. The man he bought it from had a teenage grandson who had outgrown weekend camping trips and they decided to sell the camper. He seemed happy that it was going to our family to continue the fun!
Since the ditch at the start of the driveway to Sugarloaf Mountain is inaccessible by low clearance vehicles, we parked the camper at the neighbors and waited to take it home the next day.
Getting it in the driveway was another fun event. Tommy had a hard time thinking backward about turning the wheel but eventually he got it in the driveway. We bought a hand truck (accessory #1) to help guide it down the driveway and eventually, we'll need it to put it in the garage.
Finally, I realized he really just wanted something that we could do as a family - something that we could build memories with for our kids. I've always liked camping so it wasn't that I was against camping but I just didn't see how a Vanagon was practical for our soon to be family of five. Then I thought, how about a pop-up camper, and Voila! suddenly we owned one! Seriously, just like that Tommy found one he wanted, bid on it (he also trolled ebay) and won!
During our family vacation to Arkansas over the fourth of July, he and his dad drove to Ada, Oklahoma to pick it up. The man he bought it from had a teenage grandson who had outgrown weekend camping trips and they decided to sell the camper. He seemed happy that it was going to our family to continue the fun!
Since the ditch at the start of the driveway to Sugarloaf Mountain is inaccessible by low clearance vehicles, we parked the camper at the neighbors and waited to take it home the next day.
Getting it in the driveway was another fun event. Tommy had a hard time thinking backward about turning the wheel but eventually he got it in the driveway. We bought a hand truck (accessory #1) to help guide it down the driveway and eventually, we'll need it to put it in the garage.
Our inaugural camping trip was on July 20 to Longview Lake. We went with friends - Danny and Michelle and their kids Mia and Miles. It was great fun! We were super worried about the heat - during the week it had been over 100 degrees everyday and heat advisories. Tommy was worried about our baby but I told him I would sit in a lawn chair near the ice bucket the whole time, if needed. In the end, the weather was great. The Van Doren's got a site in the shade, there was a nice breeze and overnight the temperature dropped to at least 70 degrees and we actually needed blankets to cover up! It was great!
During the evening the kids played really well. Steven even took the kids to the edge of the "woods" to tell them ghost stories by the light of the flashlight.
Bedtime was a little rough since it was 10pm and the kids usually go to bed around 8pm. It was also bad because we forgot pillows and sleep toys. Won't do that again!
However, once they were asleep the kids didn't wake up until the sun started shining in. Our little girl who always wakes up first was actually the one who stayed in bed the longest! Note the deflated air mattress - we're going to have to work on that.
PHOTO TO BE INSERTED ONCE DOWNLOADED FROM MY PHONE
All in all, it was a great adventure and we're looking forward to our next trip!
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