Melanie and I usually go on our annual camping trip to Carlsbad, CA around Labor Day weekend. Typically, it is just us and our friends and a few dozen bottles of our favorite ingredients for making some wild concoctions.

This year, we wanted to bring Lauren with us. We were lucky to have some friends that scored a good campsite on the beach side of the campground. This is no easy feat as you have to book 7 months in advance, and the spots go really fast. Melanie was only able to get an inland side spot from Sunday through Tuesday. Stacy’s mom (Bonnie) and brother (Jason), let us put up our tent at their spot from Friday through Sunday. This was great since Jason and his wife Nova have two girls, Tyler and Hanna. The three girls got along so well, especially Hannah and Lauren.

Lauren had a blast and I’m so glad that Melanie and I got to experience her first camping adventure with her. Everything from sleeping outside in a tent, to making s’mores at the campfire. It’s really priceless! We’ve already assured her that we’ll be camping again next year, and that we’ll do our best to be at or near Tyler and Hannah’s campsite.

Check out the photoset here…