Our annual Father’s Day camping trip.Paul helped navigate because our destination was a small spot on the map we highlighted, between Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear. This year’s gift was a hammock, set up on arrival with a thumbs up approval from papa.Of course we all took turns relaxingor drawing or snuggling inside. This was the first trip using both tents. I won’t lie about how nervous I was at bedtime the first night, but how happy I was to hear their giggles and snoring.It was also the trip where little boys were given knives for safety and fun and exploring. At one point Henry proudly made a “stick pencil” where he took turns writing in the dirt with Olivine.I spent time resisting the urge to call out warnings, rules, and instead practice what I believe about trusting my kids to go off to parts of the campsite where I couldn’t see them.

She didn’t always love them disappearing but we made our own fun.And yes, of course, there was a small green lake (kid description) for swimming in

along with hiking and maybe a quick drive over to Big Bear for ice cream.There were fires started and s’mores eaten.Each trip teaches us a little more about what our family needs:time together with little distraction, enjoying the best parts of life and taking in some sunshine.