Safari With Nuts and Root Beer Candy

I don't know if it can be classified as an annual event, but we have done it two years in a row.

I'm talking about backyard camping.

This year Allie and I slept outside in the tent once again. Ranger Debbie brought us provisions (nuts and root beer candy). We slept on air beds covered with just about every comforter, blanket or throw available in the house.

Allie and I went exploring around 10:00 p.m. We were walking around the neighborhood searching for lighting bugs and adventure. Allie wanted to cut through the park, but suddenly I felt self-conscious. I'll set the scene: a man, walking down a sidewalk at 10:00 at night hand-in-hand with a five-year old dressed in Barbie pajama bottoms and a hoodie holding an aligator shaped flashlight taking a turn into the darkness of an empty park.

It didn't seem like the thing to do.

We remained on the sidewalk and found some bugs. We also checked on the baby bunnies in the backyard. They're doing fine, by the way. Allie laughed when they leaped out of the hole and tumbled over each other like furry lotto balls.

We went to sleep about 11:45 p.m. This, despite all the fireworks that were being ignited close by. I'd wake up every hour or so and push Allie back onto her pool float (that's what she was sleeping on) and cover her back up. She continued to snore all night long. It took me at least three times to figure out the creature lurking around outside the tent was really just Allie grinding her teeth. Needless to say, I'm not feeling too rested this morning, but I don't mind.

Did I mention it was cold? But in the morning, as soon as a little sunlight hit the tent it began to warm us up. Around 7:30 we went inside and Deb and Julia were waiting for us. We had toast with jam and I had Fruit Loops for breakfast.

That's what happened last night. Allie wants to sleep in the tent again, tonight.

We'll see.