It's Been a Blast!

This past weekend we went camping with Sophia's Girl Scout Troop. It was our first time camping as a family. Alex was not thrilled with the idea....he loves to camp...but NOT with Girl Scouts. He did come around when he found out he could earn service hours for Boy Scouts and that was all the motivation he needed.

We left Friday morning (Ted & I drove separately in order to accommodate all the scouts) and headed down to the oceanfront. We went on a tour of the Old Coast Guard Lifesaving Station on the Virginia Beach boardwalk. Our tour guide was obviously a local historian...the tour lasted way too long, about 2 1/2 hrs. and we were all starving for lunch when the tour was over.


We headed out to First Landing State Park but could not get into the campsites until 4 p.m. We found picnic tables (thankfully in the shade) and devoured our packed lunches. Afterwards, we headed out to the beach at Fort Story which was located next to the state park. Our Girl Scout leader has military I.D. but we lowly civilians had to get all the kids out of the cars, leave all the doors open, and pop open the hood and trunk for the MPs to thoroughly check our vehicles. They even had one of those mirrors on an extension rod to look underneath our cars. After we were verified not to be a threat...we finally made it to the beach located on the Army base. (First Landing State Park did have a beach, but no lifeguards.)

After spending a couple of hours at the beach we headed back to the campsite to make dinner. We made hobo dinners on hot coals (they took forever to make because the wood wasn't completely dry and took forever to burn). Later we joined the rangers for a campfire, storytelling and smores. The campfire the rangers built was pitiful...again not enough dry wood. Here they were telling the scouts about fire safety....yet they were pouring lighter fluid on the fire to get it going. At the same time they telling the kids to never do this. We headed back to our campsite where another parent kept our campfire going and made more smores.

Saturday was jammed pack with activities...a little too much. But, I knew this already since the GS leader gave me an agenda ahead of time. We rushed to get breakfast cooked (pancakes & sausages)...thankfully on a portable propane stove. We walked a mile to the nature center to go on a "Swamp Stomp", which we actually all enjoyed. We went on the Bald Cypress Trail and got to see Spanish moss hanging from the cypress trees. This is the furthest north Spanish moss can grow and survive. It was pretty neat looking. According to Ted the moss makes a great fire starter when dry. The kids got to see and pet whatever the ranger could pull out of the swamp with her net.



Afterwards, we walked back another mile to do an Orienteering Course. The girls did not want to do this (heck, I wasn't in the mood to do it)...we were all tired from walking. Ted took Matt back to the campsite. Alex did get to help out and show the girls how to use a compass....I'll stick with my GPS. After orienteering was over we headed back to the campsite and had a quick lunch.

Soon it was back to Fort Story....this time to visit the Cape Henry Lighthouses and then go to the beach located on base. And yes, we had to go through the dreaded vehicle check once again. We climbed up the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse (brick) which was built in 1792. The newer one, which is not so new (built in 1881) is not open to the public. Both lighthouses are located only 357 ft. away from each other. We all enjoyed going up the lighthouse and seeing the view of the Chesapeake Bay.


After touring the lighthouse we headed to the beach again. We rented a kayak and the scouts got to take turns riding in the kayak with an adult. Ted & Sophia were lucky to be out on the kayak and get up close to the dolphins that were swimming by. I couldn't believe how many dolphins were out there that day. Everyone stopped swimming for a few minutes just to see them.

We had sandwiches for dinner on the beach and then headed back home. After making sure all the girls parents came to pick them up we finally arrived home around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night. We were all beat but had a great time.

On another note, it is hard to believe that it has been a year already since we moved. The kids have had a dynamite summer down here in Virginia. But, sadly, they have also experienced friends moving away as well. Since we live in such a transient area (due to the military), several classmates and even neighbors have left the area.

The kids start school in less than 2 weeks and I am trying to get all their stuff together. I am sad to see the summer fly by....but I can't complain. Our first summer down here in VA has been a blast!