Luke's First (1/2) Camping Trip

Since the ten-day vacation to Louisiana went so well, the following weekend we decided - hey let's take Luke camping!  BAD idea.  The plan was to camp for two nights with two other families.  We were going to a family-friendly campground where we've been previously.  The weather forecast was predicting perfect camping weather and the other two families were bringing most of the food... we thought we had it made! 

Our campsite - weekend home in the woods

Angela enjoys a treat in front of the campfire

We've got the camping routine well rehearsed and everything started fine Friday afternoon.  Three families, three tents all set up in a nice semi-private shaded area along a gently flowing river.  All of the kids were playing and having fun.  Luke was his normal happy self.  He couldn't keep his regular nap schedule on Friday, but he did have a long snooze in the car ride to the campground.

Four girls headed to the creek

Splish, splash

Four friends posing in the creek

Sassy poses

The kids retreated to the tents to fall sleep at about 8:00 p.m.  The adults chatted around the campfire for awhile longer.  Luke was sleeping in Angela's arms.  Eventually the adults got tired too and each family said "goodnight" and zipped up the tents.

Inside our tent we started to get Luke ready for bed (this is not an easy task in the dark with only flashlights).  While changing  his diaper Luke "sprayed" us several times (making a wet mess on himself, sleeping bags, etc.).

Maddie and Mom

Mom and Luke

Luke and Dad catch some zzzzzs in the hammock

After getting Luke ready for bed we fed him and put him down to sleep.  For some reason, he didn't fall asleep like he normally does... he was squirmy and restless with lots of "talking."  Maddie slept through most of the commotion and our fellow campers say they didn't hear Luke (much).  Luke eventually fell asleep, but awoke again in the middle of the night (as he usually does) for a diaper change and feeding.  Once again he was not his normal self.  There were several diaper changes (he had an upset tummy so lots of pooping!) with lots of restless squirming and babbling.  Falling asleep again took a long time - for Luke and Mom and Dad.

Dad carefully crosses the creek with Luke in the baby backpack

They made it safely to the other side of the creek - Luke wonders how they'll get back across

Morning finally came.  Dad decided that he and Luke would spend the second night in the local hotel leaving Mom and Maddie at the campground with our friends.  This was a great decision! Both Luke and Dad slept very well in the hotel, and the campers left behind slept better the second night too.



Three friends

Dance party at the campsite!

Kids examining a bug near the campsite

Despite Luke's apparent dislike of camping, we had fun!  Maddie loves camping with friends and all of the other kids (3 girls, 1 boy) had a great time.  The highlight of the weekend for Maddie was catching her first fish!  Actually she caught two!  The second one wiggled off the hook and fell into the water as we were posing for a picture.  The first was about 4 inches long... the second one was about 6 inches long (or course like all good fishing tales, when Maddie tells the story they're much bigger).

Dad and girls find a perfect fishing spot

Dad baits the hook as Maddie looks on

Success! Maddie hooks her first fish!

It's not a record breaker, but Maddie is thoroughly impressed (and excited)

We've decided that Luke is probably still too young for camping now. We'll try again when he's a little older (and sleeping through the night regularly).  We don't regret trying...we had fun and Maddie is looking forward to holding this over Luke's head when he's older.

Mom gets a big smile from Luke

Family photo in front of our home for two nights (well, one night for Dad and Luke)

Tour of Louisiana (via Dallas TX)

We recently completed a ten-day vacation to Louisiana (starting in Dallas, TX) which was very busy, but very fun.  As usual, we came home with lots of memories, photos and videos. It had been five years since our last visit to LA so we were excited for another visit. What made this trip most memorable was that it was the first vacation with Luke!



Starting our vacation in Dallas - Day 1



We started the vacation by flying into Dallas, TX to visit some of Angela's college friends.  Less than 24 hours later we were making the three-hour trip to Bossier, LA where Grandma (Angela's mother) lives. 

Dallas friends love Baby Luke!

Luke is loved - and held - by many along the way

Maddie meets new friends in Dallas

Grandma rolled out the red carpet for our visit and arranged an itinerary full of fun and interesting activities.  Highlights of the visit included a private boat tour of the Red River (Maddie helped drive the boat!), a day at the children's science museum in Shreveport, and visiting Angela's undergraduate college for a walk down memory lane (literally).

Maddie rides demonstration exhibit at the Science Museum in Shreveport

Maddie and Dad make paper airplanes at the Science Museum

Luke and Mom enjoying the Science Museum

Maddie leaves her head on a table at the Science Museum... she later came back to pick it up!

Maddie enjoys a tire swing on Centenary campus in Shreveport

Relaxing at Angela's old campus

Captain Maddie navigates the tour boat down the Red River in Shreveport

Luke and Dad waiting for the river cruise to pull away from the dock

Luke is so excited for the cruise... he can't control his drool!

Luke's excitement soon wears off as he sleeps during the river tour while Dad provides a comfy hold

After a three-day visit with Grandma, we drove south to the Lafayette, LA area.  Along the way we stopped at "Gators and Friends" animal park to see some alligators (of course) and other exotic animals.  This stop provided the funniest moment of the entire vacation when a llama spit in Angela's face.  Hilarious... but not for Angela as it was happening.  She laughs about it now and you can too (see the video clip).

 

Maddie feeds some goats

Grandma can't get enough of Baby Luke

Bubble mouth looks directly into the camera

We stayed in the Lafayette area for one day and two nights.  There was a large family gathering in our honor that gave everyone a chance to visit with us and meet baby Luke (he was really the star of the party).

Maddie meets a second cousin in Lafayette

Maddie views the mighty Mississippi River in New Orleans

Our last four days were spent in New Orleans where we stayed on the 19th floor of the Westin hotel overlooking the Mississippi River.  Activities included a swamp tour and visits to the zoo, aquarium and insectarium (where Maddie touched a Madagascar hissing cockroach and Tom ate cricket cookies).  

A frightening giant ant in the underground exhibit at the Insectarium



Fearless (and not easily grossed out): Maddie touches a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

A long day at the Insectarium puts Luke to sleep

Posing by fountain at Audubon Zoo (New Orleans)

Maddie meets her cousin Taylor at the Audubon Zoo

Maddie and Taylor discover they both like playing in the water

Angela with family - taking a break to feed Luke at the zoo

Horsing around at the sea horse exhibit - Audubon Aquarium New Orleans

A seal and starfish that look just like Angela and Maddie

Tasty family poses with giant shark jaws

Maddie holds baby alligator "Elvis" during the swamp tour

One of many alligators we saw during the swamp tour - is this Elvis' mother?

We spent a little time to taking in the New Orleans culture with a visit to Cafe du Monde for beignets and a walk around Jackson Square.  We also visited with more family and another of Angela's friends who lives in New Orleans.

 

In front of Jackson Square in the French Quarter (Luke was snoozing in stroller)

Maddie relaxes with Luke in the hotel before we start a busy day

Last morning in the hotel room before checking out.. we had fun!

As you can tell, we packed a lot into this trip. Maddie was her typical self - easy going, flexible, full of wonder and joy and easy to travel with.  We didn't know what to expect from Luke, but he did very well overall and exceeded our expectations despite the fact that we didn't maintain a very "baby friendly" schedule (naps and down time were not very common).  Not to mention sleeping in four different locations during the ten-day trip can be difficult for anyone - baby or adult.  Everywhere we went Luke charmed people.  In fact, one day two different strangers commented that he was a "perfect little baby" (we couldn't agree more!).  Luke even did well on our return trip when we encountered air travel delays, lost pacifiers (oh my) and a very late arrival home.  We survived traveling with a 3 1/2 month old so we figure we can survive anything!  Up next... Luke's first camping trip... stay tuned!