According To Ann: The Gray Family "Alder Flat" Camping Trip

I've been to Alder Flat 5 times. Usually, I'm a little cold, but it's nothing too terrible. Well, this year was not good to me. I have never been so cold in my entire life. I wanted to die. But, despite the cold...and the rain/mist it was a good time. Alder Flat always delivers. Below are my 20 favorite moments at Alder Flat.

1. Travis thinks he saw a beaver, but I betcha it was a nutria.
2. Ryan found a lizard.
3. Evan caught an unbelievable amount of crickets.
4. The "outhouse" had a toilet seat with walls and a really cool toilet paper holder. Loved it!
5. I managed to finish 3 crossword puzzles
6. I think Jess and Kate read 2 entire pages in their book. Not bad, really.
7. Warren kept us up to date on the politics and cultural facts of 1950's China. Very interesting despite the fact that it sounds very, very boring.
8. Bev, Malcolm and Paul took a lot of naps and only came out at night or when they could smell food.
9. Shelby turned into a bear and if you were lucky, you could hear her roar. So cute.
10. Kim caught 3 fish, thanks to Evan's crickets.
11. Camille involuntarily slid down the big hill and didn't get hurt.
12. Tyler ate a lot of candy and some hotdogs if the dogs didn't get to them first.
13. Ryan studied up on heart disease and skin disorders and on occasion turned into a mule.
14. Natalie read a lot in her book (lucky her) and told me many times that Shelby was really cute. She is, it's true.
15. Ray kept the fire going and chopped the wood despite the crappiness of the saw and axe.
16. JetBoil is my new best friend. I hope JetBoil adds me as a friend on Facebook. That's how much I love him.
17. I have a new appreciation for foods that require more than "just add water" in the cooking directions.
18. "Egg water" and hot chocolate don't belong together, no matter how many times Kim suggests that it's good.
19. The heavy/good food is always hidden until the last day and then suddenly it appears because no one wants to hike it out.
20. We all renewed our appreciation and wonderment for the use and function of the "quotation mark."

All of this made Alder Flat a good time.

We think Shelby had a good time too, but she could have been happier if she would have taken naps. She refused to sleep. Her stubbornness surprises me sometimes. Travis...not so much. I don't know why?

Me and the Shelbs getting read to go