Despite the summer heat Scotter wanted to wear his hiking shoes today
Next week we’re going camping and I can’t wait! I’m all excited for our first TRUE family camping trip. Both Tom and I camped a bunch growing up. Some of my fondest family memories were made in the mountains of Washington, alongside a glacier lake. We want to create the same memories for our children. As I’m planning the trip I’m getting more and more excited about the prospects of being a “camping/backpacking family.” I’m learning about dehydrating beans (simply cook beans and put them in a dehydrator!). Should I pick up the dehydrator Aldi is selling next week? Maybe I should buy a home vacumn pack machine so we could make all our camping meals!  I’m all hyped about outdoor fashion. I want to be one of those cute girls who look so chic and naturelle in her bandana and fancy hiking shoes. 
Okay, maybe someday. . . Next week we’re going to be roughing it. We are not backpacking, but we’re are going to a hike in camp spot- just under a mile from the trail head. We’ll all squish into our two person backpacking tent. (Thanks again Shani!) We’ll share our one sleeping bag and bring along some blankets- thankfully it’s summer! We’re going to purchase the cheapest one burner campstove- the kind that screws onto a propane tank, and we’ll probably splurge on a maglight flash light or two. (Or should we buy headlamps?) We’ll use sticks for marshmellow skews. Though we do have a fancy set of snap together plastic plates/bowl/cups thanks to Mom and Dad Foutz! I think I’ll pull together a creative dinner or two, maybe make some homemade granola bars, and who knows- maybe even sew a bandana! 
In the mean time I’m dreaming away, making plans that are completely unrealistic, all while I ought to be working on mudding and taping our office. Oh, but dreaming is lovely!