I'm so excited...tomorrow we're leaving for a three night, four day camping trip in God's country (Petrolia - in case you didn't know). We haven't been anywhere as a family for a long time, probably since last year's camping trip:

It's funny how difficult and time consuming planning for a camping trip can be; I've made two separate trips to Safeway this week alone, just for our "simple" camping trip. Unlike our more sophisticated friends, we've yet to make the jump to a trailer or camper and we stick to our two room tent and ten layers of padded flooring. The kids dig it and I actually don't mind it. It's amazing to take the "ceiling" off at night and look at the shooting stars - or maybe they're just passing satellites - but who really cares 'cuz they still look pretty nifty. Try doing that in your RV!

I'm actually having a little anxiety about this trip because it was my idea to go in the first place. I tend to be the one who stays at home on major holiday weekends but I knew with the upcoming events, this might be the only long weekend we'd have available for camping. I'm hoping things aren't too crazy and that our fellow campers can tolerate our redneck ways for a couple of days at least.

Hopefully, there will be no public displays of nudity like last year:

And certainly, no more debauchery with water balloons in the sports bra:

Or complete messes made of adorable faces:

Things might be gettin' a bit ugly (again) this year but it will be fun. What are your plans for the 4th? Are you crazy like us and braving the crowds? Or, do you prefer a quiet evening at home, blowing off your digits with family?