2011 Johnson Family Campout

Continuing with tradition, we attended the annual Johnson Family Camp out last week at Tanner Flats in Little Cottonwood Canyon. The kids look forward to it like Christmas. We camped for three days (two nights). Thanks to our kind neighbors I had a pop-up camper for me and Ellie to use, but Seth and most of the kids used our tent.

The first day we mostly set up camp. We also played some four square, cooked up giant sticky marshmallows, and enjoyed the company of Matt, Christy, and her kids. Grandma prepared the traditional scavenger hunt for the grandkids. This year they found a movie and were able to watch it in Grandpa Mike’s new car in the evening. Claire and Lucy camped with Grandma Jan on night one. I knew things weren’t going well when I heard Grandma yell, “Quit talking Claire!” But they made it through the night, although with minimal sleep I assume.

Eatin’ some diner

Ellie loved camping!

The kids getting started on the scavenger hunt.

Some of the kiddos watching “Babe in the City”

Claire and Lucy enjoying time in Grandma’s tent.

The second night involved a short hike for the little kids and a VERY long hike for the big kids (more of that to come in the next post). We also worked on making dolls for a short time and I did a little bit of napping with the little ones, hoping to make up for our lack of sleep the night before. We spent a lot of time playing in the nearby streams as well. The kids made and raced boats with Grandma.

Playing by the stream.

In the evening we did our dutch oven cookout where each family was in charge of a dish. Mom made delicious teriyaki chicken, Dave and Lisa made chili, Seth and I cooked up our tasty cheesy potatoes, Abby and Matt made up some cornbread and Spencer and Rach finished off the meal with gooey chocolate cake. While the food was cooking Megan and Katelyn measured the ingredients for homemade ice-cream and the kids spent quite some time rolling the cans back and forth until the ice-cream was ready to have with dessert.

KK and Meg getting the ingredients measured for homemade ice-cream

The girls rolling of the 5 cans of ice-cream.

We finished off the night with more four square and even more marshmallows. Everyone had a wonderful time. A super special thanks to Mom and Dad Johnson for providing the campsites, most of the supplies and all of the fun. Can’t wait till next year!

KK & Meg by the fire.