Our Camping Neighbors

This was my first camping trip with kids. Three adults, two kids... things stayed under control. There were always two adults watching at all times. Seemed simple...

Our neighbors in the adjacent campsite were amazing. They pulled up in an old station wagon, and five kids spilled out into the woods. There were four girls, and the oldest couldn't have been more than six. One child of indeterminate sex, about a year and one half. Child number six was an infant that mom had with her most of the time. Mom and Dad looked like they were in their mid-twenties.

These kids were everywhere. Off to the restroom in teams of three. Designated buddies. Collecting firewood in pairs. When we went to the waterfall, these kids were scrambling across the stream and rock climbing without help from Mom and Dad.

I don't know how, but they went through the weekend without injury, without fights, without boredom, without toys other than those glow in the dark necklaces.

I'm guessing they must be a combined family. Sunday morning all four girls jammed into the tent, screaming at Dad, "Wake Up Matt!!" over and over again.