Camping is always high on our summer priority list. We have been waiting for the weather to warm up long enough for us to have a campout. It finally warmed up for a few days, so Justin got online and found us the perfect spot. We had heard of a place called ` The Ovens` where some of the students have taken a day trip to come hike, and swim. We had never been, but had always wanted to go, and once we found out they had campsites we thought it would be fun to stay the night. When Justin called and made the reservation the Park asked him if he would like a wooded campground, or a beach campsite... We thought the beach sounded like more fun for the kids, so we went ahead with that option...
All visitors are invited to enjoy the large swimming pool. We choose a good day to come because the weather was nice and hot, so after lunch, and getting things set up, a dip in the pool was just what we needed. The kids love to swim. Miley liked jumping to dad from the side of the pool, and Scotlin liked to play volleyball, and then pour out his buckets full of water.
After swimming we took the kids on their first on-foot hike.
They were such good little hikers and campers. Being outdoors, and whatching them have a good time is the best part of it all.
After a long day of swimming, and hiking, we came back to camp and started dinner.
Scotlin and miley thought it was so fun to have a tent where they could run and play inside.
Every year we take the kids camping gets more and more fun for all of us. 
Miley and Scotlin helped Dad build a fire. Justin and I kept laughing over the wood we bought from the Park because it was so damp it wouldn`t burn. Our climate is so wet, everything is so moist. When we finally got it burning, we watched as water steamed, and boiled out of the wooden logs. Justin is a true Eagle Scout if he can even get wet wood to burn! Miley was so happy we had a fire! She had been looking forward to it all day, and could hardly wait to roast the marshmellows. I think she must have told us this over 300 times.
Scotlin was pretty facinated by it too. He just stood by daddy`s side saying `O! Pretty! O! Pretty!`
I love it when he says that.
After enjoying our marshmellows we tucked our little campers into bed.
The rest of the evening is what I had been looking forward to the most... Being with my man, sitting by the fire, and watching the sun set. There were so many times when I looked out over the view, and just thought: `I can`t believe where I am right now!`
There was a sign on our campground that said The Oven`s are known for the incredible natural beauty, diverce geography, and fascinating history. It stated that people have been drawn to this Natural Park for Hundreds of years. As we enjoyed everything this park had to offer, we could certainly see why it is so specail, and unique.
Later that night, friends from our ward ended up being only a few campsites away from us, so they pulled their chairs over and we all enjoyed visiting around the campfire together.
We didn`t sleep all that great through the night.... We never seem to when we`re camping. I pretty much always gear up for a terrible night`s sleep. :) But, anyway... The forecast had called for isolated thunder showers the next day, so we were hoping, with any luck, we could be out in the morning before the rain came. But, instead, we woke up to nothing BUT rain.
We sat inside the tent until we formulated a plan. I sat inside the car with the kids, and fed them what I could find while Justin packed the car, and took down the tent IN THE RAIN!
Luckily, he had a little help from one of our friends.
Camping is always a lot of work. But, camping in the rain has tripled the work load.
We could never have the true Nova Scotia experience though, if it didn`t include the rain!
Now we`ve got sleeping bags hanging on the doors,
Got to love the Nova Scotia weather though, in Paradise one minute, and then getting rained out the next.
Even with the rain, it was such a fun trip.
Check camping off the list!
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