Johnson Family Annual Family Campout

I returned last night from our annual family campout to Tanner’s Flat campground (up Little Cottonwood Canyon). We had a great time. We couldn’t have asked for better weather or a better day to go. We left Wednesday morning and the area we stayed was empty. It took away any extra worries about our kids getting hit by car or wandering into strangers in the bathrooms.

Getting ready to leave for camp.

G’ma Jan always does a great job setting up camp, leading the cooking, and planning activities. She made a great breakfast for everyone on Thursday morning…full course! And doesn’t breakfast taste that much better when you are camping?! She also did a scavenger hunt around camp for the kids and although it didn’t take them nearly as long as she would have liked, they had a ton of fun and got a yummy treat at the end too!

We also did a dutch oven cookout on Thursday night and everyone was in charge of a part of the meal. Mom made beef stroganoff. Joe and Kodie came along that night with a crockpot of ribs. Seth and I did our usual cheesy potatoes and Abby and Matt made some delicious cornbread. While the food cooked (and it takes quite a long time in dutch ovens), the kids all worked on rolling cans back and forth to make homemade ice-cream to go with the peach cobbler that Spencer and Rach made in their dutch oven. Everything was great!

Seth manning the dutch ovens.

The kids rolling the cans to make homemade ice-cream.

The favorite pastime this campout was four square. Yes, I did say four square. I am not sure who got it started, probably Jake since he plays it at school, but we had everyone, even the oldest brothers and mom and dad playing intense games of four square. It took a few rounds to get the hang of it and solidify the rules (which I have since found out weren’t correct) but everyone caught on quickly and had a ball (ha! a ball, get it?)

Here is one of the many four square matches we had.

If the kids weren’t playing four square they were busy trying to set traps to catch the chipmunks. Those little guys loved our camp and were scurrying about snatching food any chance they got. The kids spent several hours trying to catch them and although one was never officially caught, the kids did get a couple in their traps before they squirmed away. The kids also took turns taking rides with Grandpa Mike on his electric wheel chair. They love sitting on his lap cruising around camp!

Claire on a ride with Grandpa!

We took a couple walks to the amphitheater so the younger kids could perform. It was hilarious. Drew would stand up there for hours singing the same monotone sound the entire time. We had to pull him off the stage kicking and screaming. Katelyn, Claire and Lucy also took turns singing and dancing. Spencer and David told a some jokes and Grandpa performed with his harmonica. What talent! 🙂

Drew, Lucy & Claire singing at the amphitheater

Campouts are a lot of work. They take a ton of preparation. Kids get cranky, parents get tired, and we all get grimy and stinky, but we have SO much fun that we keep doing it. The kids didn’t want to come home. Claire is still asking to go back to camp. [*I came home Thursday night around 10:00 pm instead of coming home this morning and I brought the youngest three with me. They were so tired and I am catching a cold so Seth thought it would be better if got home to get some real rest.]

Overall we had a great time and can’t wait to do it again! Thanks to everyone who came, shared food, and had fun! We love being with our family!

The boys in the tent getting ready for bed.

Little Ellie was such trooper. She really didn’t fuss at all.

G’ma Jan holding Ellie Belle