Even the best laid plans . . .

Meet Lane, a father of 4 lovely children who have been hounding him about wanting to go camping.  Having never been a camping lover, he set out the greatest plan to camp in his own way.  He discussed it with his amazing, beautiful wife ;) (who may or may not be writing this post) and she was 100% behind the idea, because it meant she didn't have to really go up and camp!

He decided the greatest compromise between not camping and camping, would be to get their sleeping bags out and sleep up on their beautiful balcony that overlooks all of Phoenix.  They would have the luxuries of home (aka bathrooms) yet the kids would get to sleep in sleeping bags and under the stars.

He talked to the kids about how fun it will be.  They began the countdown.  "Only 3 more days until we camp on the roof!" "Mom this is the best week ever because we get to do a, b, c, and end it by camping on the roof!"  

These kids were stoked. 

Now, knowing that no camping trip is complete without the fire, he purchased a portable fire pit and some fake logs to take up on the balcony and make s'mores.  Because everyone knows that you can't camp out without making s'mores!

Sadly, about 1/2 hour before heading to the roof, he started getting reports of rain coming from the south.  But undaunted, he insisted the family go up to the roof with pillows, sleeping bags and the fire pit.  He really didn't want to let his children down - who were still wanting to sleep outside (we can just put up the tent! they said)  

The family ascended the stairs and sat around the real/fake fire and started to tell ghost stories.  After 2 stories were told, the rain began to fall, and more than just a sprinkling.  So, Lane and his lovely, supportive wife ;) quickly grabbed as much as they could and herded the clan down to the covered patio.  Oh no, they were not going to call it quits yet!

The children were sword fighting and jousting with their big metal pokey sticks, anxiously awaiting the s'more making.  Their mother was just waiting for someone to poke an eye out.  

Plan B: Lane decided to light the fireplace out on the covered patio.  That would have been perfect, except for the fact that the natural gas fireplace would not light!  He could not get it to start. 

Still undaunted, the children suggested the family room fireplace.  

 Plan C:  roast marshmallows and make s'mores in the family room, then sleep on the covered patio. Perfect!!

After about 10 attempts, Lane finally got the gas fireplace in the family room lit and ready.

Things were going along rather swimmingly - (even though the marshmallows Lane bought were made for the Jolly Green Giant's family).  The marshmallows started to get a little soft, and the chocolate bars and graham crackers were opened and ready to go.

However, fate had other plans.  The smoke detector/fire alarm started going off.  Oops!  You mean it's not OK to roast marshmallows in your house?  In a panic, they turned on the ceiling fans, and opened some windows.  Prayers that the in-ceiling sprinkling system not go off were being sent to heaven.  All supplies were taken back on to the patio, and Lane and his wife were ready to say sorry kids - no s'mores.  

Plan D:  Not wanting to give up so easily, Lane went up on the balcony and found the still blazing fire pit with the fake logs.  The rain had slowed to a sprinkle, and the fire was still going.  He somehow discovered that the legs of the new portable fire pit were not hot at all, and with his lovely wife's help, they could carry it down (still burning) off the balcony and set it up on the back patio.  His lovely wife thought he was completely crazy, but didn't want to crush the hopes and dreams of her children and husband.  Amazingly they were able to bring the fire pit down without starting any hair on fire, burning any appendages, or spilling it while going down the stairs.  It must have been meant to be . . .

Now, the kids could make their ginormous s'mores and eat 2 bites, decide they don't want it, and feed it to their mom or the dog.

Although technically CPS could have taken this child from her parents for the way she was swinging around her pointed roasting stick - she had a blast roasting the marshmallows and the kids had fun.

As all good things must come to an end, the kids finally snuggled excitedly into their sleeping bags on the covered patio, ready for a great nights sleep.

They came in the house 5 minutes later, said they were scared, and went downstairs to bed.

So, thus ends the story of the Cook family 2010 camping trip.

(You may notice that the oldest of the children is missing.  She was kinda smart and opted to shop at the mall with her friends instead! She missed out on quite an adventure! :) )