Wildcat Den State Park

Nothing like our camping trips to dust this old blog off...

Sort of last minute Ty and I realized we didn’t have plans for the weekend and thought a little camping trip close to home would be a good way to spend some family time.  So Friday after work we loaded up the family and all the gear, and it wasn't until we arrived we realized we had forgotten our air mattress and torch to start the fire.  849,086 matches later we had a fire!   We let the kids stay up a little later than usual and fed them after dinner snacks of popcorn and s'mores with the hopes of the fresh air and full bellies making them super tired and when it was bedtime they would all fall into sleep peacefully and quietly with a smiles on their faces.  After about 2.5 hours of them not settling down we decided driving around always does the trick.  We drove around for a bit and they were still wired.  We decided if we were going to drive, we might as well make it worthwhile and drive home to get the air mattress.  The last kid fell asleep about 10:20 p.m. (about 3 hours past bedtime).

Before bed, the DNR greeted us and explained there were some trails, literally right behind our tent that most campers enjoy.  She looked at our small children and said, the trail should be easy enough to do with these kiddos too.  That was all that was needed to plant the seed in Harper's mind that we would be going on a hike the next day.

Saturday morning all of the kids were up before 6 a.m. and already extremely crabby from not getting their normal hours of sleep.  After 4 helpings of breakfast, they were begging to hit the trails.  The trails started off innocently enough, a few hills, a few stairs and everyone was enjoying the trail.

We had to retire the baby Bjorn after this trip as her belly no longer fits.... :)

Hazel (18 mos), Miles (3), Harper (5)

Since there was no screaming (aside from all 3 yelling at the top of their lungs "POISON IVY" and then laughing uncontrollably) or whining, we would continue on the path that stated, "Mills".  Less than 1/2 mile to the Mills they started complaining they were tired, we told them we would rest at the Mills.

When we tried to tell everyone to sit and rest, they refused stating they were hungry. (Side note: what kind of mom doesn't bring snacks, water, or extra diaper/wipes?!?!).  This is about the point where we realized the DNR lady lies and it was not safe or easy for our small family--can you see it on their faces? On the walk back Ty and I took turns with one of us carrying one child and the other carrying two.  Here's a #beastmode picture of Ty, but apparently he didn't reciprocate the love of photographing my badassness:

Once back to the campsite we refueled, changed pants (for Miles) and thought we'd head into town to watch all of the RAGBRI'ers bike into town, thinking they'd catch a cat nap on the way into town...WRONG. By the time we got there everyone was hot, hungry and tired and Ty and I quickly realized we had made a poor decision.  We loaded everyone back up in the car and decided we'd grab a bite to eat at the marina close to camp.  Everyone was behaving as well as could be expected (read still naughty as hell, but too tired to care) when a perfect family of 7 with another on the way had to come in and have perfect kids with perfect manners eat right next to us.  Miles and Harper even stared at them and one point said, "look how good they're being". I'm sure it's the same family from the Bellevue shitshow Camping Trip back to tease us some more....

After lunch we decided it was too late to take a nap and if we continued to exercise them in the fresh air, they would go to bed right after dinner....  After two large coffees, back down to the trails it was, where we decided to walk in the creek. Right when we got down the stairs Miles yelled, "I GOT TO POOP".  Turns out there was already a small turd in his shorts. Again, what kind of mom doesn't bring wipes, diapers, food, water?!?! We didn't want to turn back around, so wiping with a wet Maple leaf was our best choice... 

This chick was adventurous and loving every minute

A little grossed out by the mud, but not enough for her to stop smiling

On her way to back up against the wall and say, "CHEESE!"

This boy is usually our reserved, afraid to be adventurous or try new things, but today he could not be stopped... 

We all played/walked for quite some time until Hazel took a face plant into some rocks and shallow water.  Then we realized maybe this wasn't the best activity for small children.

Back at campsite we started cooking dinner. It was at that time that about every 15 minutes Miles would tell us he had to poop.  We'd take him in to the woods and have him squat, only for him to tell us he changed his mind and then about 2 minutes later produce a small turd in his undies. (There was no running water at this campground and the pits were very smelly and large for a toddler).  After about the 4th time of doing this, we decided maybe we needed to take him to an actual restroom. Harper on the other hand LOVED going to the bathroom in the Forrest and took every opportunity she could do go bother #1 and #2...  I took him to the nearest Casey's where anyone listening to the screams from Miles would have thought I was abducting him.  The deed was not completed, but I felt it was best for us to leave before the cops were called, so back to campsite we went.  Tyler had already gotten Hazel asleep and Miles was telling us he was tired.  We put Miles in bed only for him to whine and cry and wake up Hazel.  We then decided to try our luck at putting Harper and Miles to bed together. Bad idea. Why don't kids come with manuals?!?!  

About 9 p.m. everyone was finally asleep after numerous empty, low moment threats--except for Hazel who cried on and off until 11 p.m.  Tyler and I enjoyed what we could a campfire and a few nightcaps all the while trying to convince each other to not just pack up and go home right then.  

5 a.m. rolls around and I'm slightly awaken to Tyler getting out of the air mattress and going to the bathroom.  I slowly start to notice I am really sweaty.  Like reaaaaaaallllly sweaty.  Then I catch a whiff of urine, which doesn't take me long to assess the situation.  At some point in the night Harper has crawled into bed with us and was not wearing a pull-up as she had ripped it earlier in the night... 
            "Harper, did you pee the bed"
            "No, I think you're just really sweaty. But there is a large pile of pee in the middle here"

Literally, there was a puddle of pee with no where to go on a plastic air mattress. All of us being quite groggy, we thought the best plan would be to flip the mattress over.  Really smart idea in a tent with two other sleeping babies (one in a pack 'n play), a dog, and everyone's clothes...  Well, when the tent was flipped, all of the puddled urine went right on all of my clean clothes. That night I was thankful for Ty listening to me to "always pack more underwear than you need--even adults, because you never know what will happen..." 

During all this shuffling Hazel woke up and was NOT HAPPY.  We thought the best plan of attack would be to bring her into bed with us (which has never been successful at home) just so she didn't wake up the entire campsite.  Once in bed she kept yelling, "MINE! MINE! BUTT!".  Turns out she wanted ALL of the Queen sized blanket, EVERYONE'S pillows and to sleep on my chest (which was suffocating due to her weight) with a constant patting of her butt all the while listening to a nearby tent with a very, very large man double snoring and the strong smell of urine lingering in the air. This is about the time Tyler and I got a case of the full blown giggles.  COULD. NOT. STOP.

I'm not sure how, but we managed to all fall back asleep and sleep until close to 8.  We woke up to the smell of urine still present (turns out my hair was actually soaked in urine, so the smell followed me wherever I went...)and a burning desire to get the hell out of there.  We have never packed, made a fire and cooked breakfast faster.

Tent is already down, bags packed...

Sorry, Wildcat Den State Park, you now hold the record for the worst camping experience to date. Miles is wearing Harper's underwear and Hazel's shorts because he has peed/pooped through ALL 6 sets of clothes we packed him. I'm wearing Ty's underwear as Harper crawled into our air mattress and peed everywhere, including my clean clothes (somehow Ty stayed dry). We went on an overaggressive hike (4 miles) where we paid for it by taking turns carrying one kid and the other carrying two the last mile. Miles learned wiping with a wet maple leaf is not as nice as toilet paper. Increasing the level of awesomeness, there was no running water or modern restrooms. Yay for family time!

 As always here's a list of the 55 State Parks (only 42 more to go!):

Ambrose A. Call State Park

Backbone State Park

Beeds Lake State Park -here

Bellevue State Park here

Black Hawk State Park

Brushy Creek State Park - here

Clear Lake State Park

Dolliver Memorial State Park

Elinor Bedell State Park

Elk Rock State Park

Emerson Bay & Lighthouse State Park

Fairport State Park

Fort Defiance State Park

Geode State Park

George Wyth State Park - here

Green Valley State Park

Gull Point State Park

Honey Creek State Park

Lacey-Keosauqua State Park

Lake Ahquabi State Park here

Lake Anita State Park

Lake Darling State Park

Lake Keomah State Park

Lake Macbride State Park

Lake Manawa State Park

Lake of Three Fires State Park

Lake Wapello State Park- here

Ledges State Park

Lewis & Clark State Park

Maquoketa Caves State Park

Marble Beach State Park

Mcintosh Woods State Park

Nine Eagles State Park - here

Pallisades-Kepler State Park

Pikes Peak State Park

Pilot Knob State Park - here

Pine Lake State Park

Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area

Prarie Rose State Park

Preparation Canyon State Park

Red Haw State Park

Rock Creek State Park - here

Shimek Forest State Park

Springbrook State Park

Stephens Forest State Park

Stone State Park

Union Grove State Park

Viking Lake State Park

Volga River State Park

Walnut Woods State Park -here

Wapsipinicon State Park -here

Waubonsie State Park

Wildcat Den State Park-Just Camped!

Wilson Island State Park

Yellow River Forest Camp State Park - here