Yosemite

Heading to Yosemite for Amanda & Alyssa's first official camping trip. Left Andrea's at 9am. First stop at 11:30 to feed Alyssa at New Melones. Discover that rear A/C blows HOT air. Background music: Eagles - Hell Freezes Over, along with a long medley of songs performed by Amanda. Selections include the Fifty States song, Big Comfy Couch and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Stop for gas at 12:20 - price of gas: $3.04 per gallon. Scott says van is acting a little funny after going up a steep grade - smells hot. He thinks transmission overheated. After gas stop Scott reports it feels better and we're getting better mileage - 19 miles per gallon.

Staying first night at Upper Pines Campground - $20 per night. Arrive at Yosemite at 1pm. $20 entrance fee. Alyssa SCREAMED for nearly the entire 24 miles to our campsite despite taking a break to feed her and walk around a bit.

Once we were at the campsite, it took me about 10 minutes to decide that camping with an almost-11-month-old was a completely insane idea. She's completely coated with dirt already, which I can live with, but there's not really a safe place to set her down inside the van or out. As I write this, she is strapped to my chest and the kid is heavy. Ever try to chop vegetables with a 22-lb. kid strapped to you, arms out? Yikes.

Setting up camp was a painfully slow process with one hand on her at all times. Going on our first walk was fun since Amanda was worn out after about two minutes. "I don't wanna walk anymore, I'm TIRED!"

Dinner tonight: steak, garlic mashed potatoes, bread, squash and peas from Cara's garden and for dessert, s'mores and hot cocoa.

Minor tragedy: We dropped a tomato behind the stove and can't get it out!

The girls were asleep by 9 or 9:30, yay! We stayed up and enjoyed the stars and the fire. Amanda and Alyssa slept with me on the bottom bunk, Scott slept up above. Had cereal for breakfast then packed up in time for 10am check-out time. Amanda was sad to leave because there were five kids at the camp next to us and from the sound of things, she was in charge.

We drove around and stopped now and then to see the sights. El Capitan, Bridal Veil Falls (barely running). Both kids were griping! Our next campsite was in Lower Pines. Our spot was across the road from a nice stream. Would be a great place to camp in the summer. There were a couple of ladies on rafts but the water was ice cold. Scott was brave and took a bath, Amanda washed her legs and feet but I decided to wait and wash my hair back at camp with the sprayer. Cold but not nearly as cold as that stream.

We've seen lots of Eurovans and Vanagons here - at least twenty, and everybody waves or comes to talk to us. Apparently we didn't just buy a van, we joined a community. Scott's still in denial about being one of "Them" but considering that he has spent the last year and a half learning everything there is to know about them, I don't think there's any way around it. Pretty soon we'll be sporting "I HEART my Eurovan" T-shirts and waving at strangers on the freeway.

Dinner: Chicken, corn on the cob, pasta (left over from the b-day party) squash and s'mores and hot cocoa for dessert again. Next morning we packed up by 10am and headed home.

Stuff we forgot: Lids for pots and pans, tin-foil, paper towels, shoes for Alyssa (she has never worn shoes but they sure would have come in handy. Couldn't find shoes in the park but did buy an overpriced pair of slipper socks for "bear" feet. - $14!)

Stuff that would be nice to have for next time: Ziploc baggies, knives, a tarp to walk on, small broom, soap for bathroom, tablecloth, solar shower, battery-op lantern, blow-up raft, water-toys, paper plates/cups/silverware, corkscrew, first-aid kit, corn holders tiny microwave (Scott wants!), drawer organizer, garbage bags, something to keep Alyssa restrained/occupied/happy (Grandma?!?), more clothes for the girls since they were constantly filthy and spilled stuff), clothesline/pins, fitted sheet to keep lower bunk from getting dirty, rubber flip-flops, more snacks and toys for Amanda.

What I learned from our first camping trip:
1) There is nothing relaxing about camping with small children. Fun, never dull, but definitely not relaxing.

2) Scott freaked out about the kids getting dirty way more than I ever would have expected but trying to keep them clean was pointless since they would be filthy two minutes after cleaning them up. I figure they're kids, we're camping and getting dirty is just a part of the deal. Scott later told me that I'm a good camping buddy and mentioned that he thinks it's cool that I don't get freaked out about a little dirt! In retrospect, I think he was more worried about his new van getting dirty than anything.

3) Although I'm totally cool with plain old DIRT and can easily deal with the girls being covered in it, I totally turn psycho when it comes to the nasty, germy camp bathrooms (or any other public restroom). I can only imagine what's running through Amanda's mind when she and I enter a fairly clean looking restroom and I start freaking out, telling her not to touch ANYTHING because everything is dirty. Meanwhile she's caked in filth from playing in the dirt. Please note that both girls ended up with colds after we got home and me? I blame the nasty bathrooms.

4) I LOVE our new van! Scott was right (don't tell him I said that). This van is perfect for us and I actually think we needed this van! I think I'm going to love the van for a lot of the same reasons I loved the boat. Camping without the agony of setting up a tent. (That usually got ugly for me and Scott!) Being self-contained... a home away from home. Plus after many boat trips, packing - something I usually dread, became very routine and easy. Should be the same with the van.