This year for Christmas we wanted to do something different. Something to make Christmas a little more special with less focus on the presents and the sweet food. Somehow we found ourselves planning to go camping! James parents, his three youngest sisters, and his older sister Rachel and her family all went with us. We met in Montana in the national forest near James' Grandma Staples house. There is a little cabin there available to rent. No electricity or running water, but there is an outhouse. James parents and younger sisters stayed in the cabin. Rachel and Tyler and their family stayed in their pop-up trailer. And we stayed in our great big tent.
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| Santa was even able to find our tent out in the middle of the woods. |
Christmas morning!
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| This picture is kind of blurry, but it shows our tent all lit up at night. |
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James and Rachel making breakfast in front of the cabin.
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| Lida and Noah |
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| The Crumpley Family |
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| The Mobley's |
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| Our Family |
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| Monique, Jada, and Dajae |
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| Annie hugging her Grandma good-bye. |
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| James and Rachel |
We spent Christmas Eve setting up camp and playing around. The kids all had lots of fun together sledding and playing in the snow. Grandma Staples came out to camp to join us for dinner. She brought doughnuts and all kinds of treats. We read the Christmas story together, sang Christmas Carols, then let the kids play a little more before settling down for the night.
We spent most of Christmas Day at Grandma Staples house. We enjoyed visiting with each other and also got to Skype with Chris for quite a while. We all had Christmas dinner together. Then while the kids watched Despicable Me 2, the grown-ups played a couple of games. Just before we left we all took a turn in the bathroom so that none of us would have to use the cold outhouse in the dark. We got back to camp just in time to get ready for bed.
The day after Christmas we had a pancake breakfast then started packing up. We were sad to say good-bye to everyone.
Now we have to decide what to do next Christmas. Any suggestions???
