The Galbraith Family: Shortest Camping Trip EVER...

The boys went on their first camping trip EVER on September 24th (I am WAAYYYY behind on my blogging!). There is quite a story behind it...

Carter's friend Isaac Wilson had extended several invitations for Carter to go camping with his family. While we trust the Wilson's, Russ really wanted to be there for the boys "first camping experience." Please keep in mind that we are not campers or they would have had said experience before the ripe old ages of 8 and 11. Anywho, with that sentiment in mind, Matt Wilson, Isaac's father, graciously invited Russ and the boys to go with them on an excursion to Petit Jean Mountain. I am not exaggerating when I say that we have absolutely no free weekends until the third weekend in November...soccer and football consume the bulk of our Saturdays. September 24th was no exception...

Knowing there was no such thing as a "good time", Russ agreed to meet Matt on the mountain around 7:00 pm. This was the earliest time we could arrange due to both of the boys games and the Arkansas vs. Alabama game (priorities!). I'll save the gory details for another post, but Arkansas lost and it wasn't pretty. This sad state of affairs always puts Russ in a funk for a few days...literally. As soon as Russ snapped off the remote, he said that he wasn't feeling well (in his defense, he had complained of being really tired...but who isn't?). I replied with something snarky like, "Sounds like you have the Razorback virus. You'll be fine. The Wilson's are waiting on you guys...go!"

Fast forward to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday...Now, the boys were supposed to get up Sunday to hike and fish and do other manly things. I was expecting them MUCH later in the afternoon. The door flies open at 11:30 with Carter complaining about being in trouble (let's just say he didn't display his finest GUEST manners), Alex mumbling about not sleeping well and leaving too early...and Russ? Holy Hannah! He is burning up with almost 103 degree temp and not too happy with my diagnosis of a Razorback virus...who knew?

Apparently, they arrived to Matt having set up the entire campsite (including the 10 man tent they would ALL be sleeping in) and preparing dinner. They ate, they told ghost stories, they roasted smores...they piled into a tent where Russ' fever spiked and his cough got out of control. He says he kept stumbling out of the tent and walking into the woods in an attempt to not wake everyone else. They were up with the sun. Matt made a traditional breakfast (campfire eggs, bacon and hashbrowns) that Carter complained about (where are the pop tarts? I'm pretty sure this is where the poor manners entered the picture) and Russ was too sick to eat. He tried to rally and go fishing, but his strength and patience were fading. They were in the car by 10:30 and home by 11:30. Can we say total bust? They all want to try again...we'll see if they get another invitation.

*** Side note, today is October 16th and Russ STILL has a vicious cough. I may be moving him to a tent in the backyard very soon :)