You can either eat out of the hot bag and/or put into a bowl or plate.

or put them into a tortilla and roll into breakfast burrito. Yum!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions here. Camping was a success and the kids never got bored. It did take less to entertain them than I feared! They LOVED the color changing pine cones. And I found glow stick ring toss, which was a huge hit. Made smores with peanut butter cups, Hershey's bars, and andie's mints all in the same smore. I called it the turducken of smores. And it's a good thing I brought plenty of bandaids because I sliced my finger open with a knife. Sigh. But they had a blast. One thing that was a big hit also was mad libs. They really enjoyed the "silly story game". We are already planning another trip, but just for my backyard this time. Thanks again all for the great ideas!

Oh and for the record the turducken of smores was the kids idea. I did not try one.

Thanks for clarifying. I love smores...and peanut butter cups...and Jr Mints...but that sounds GROSS!

Do you use cots if so what is a good cheap, functional one that I can get one for each of us(there are 5)?? And where?

I recommend these

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Disc-O-Bed-Cam-O-Cot-Bunk-Beds/735034.uts?productVariantId=1634337&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=41-68329202-2&WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=50028845&rid=20

especially if they are kids. They are super durable. If you look around, you may find them cheaper. The least I found them for was about $199 on sale. They fit well if your tent has a nice roof.

I do NOT recommend something like this

http://m.target.com/p/mac-sports-travel-bed-queen-size/-/A-14877152?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=google_pla_df&LNM=14877152&CPNG=Sports&kpid=14877152&LID=14pgs&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=14877152&kpid=14877152&gclid=CO7JrNqRjccCFciFfgod4MQPyw

we broke two of them by sitting on it at a certain stress point. I hate throwing away money, so I buy sturdy for more now.

We use cheap cots and love them because you can store luggage under them.

No cots for us, but I do use an air matriss. Coleman has one that comes with a battery powered air pump. <3 it!
The kids just use a sleeping bag and a sheet &/or blanket depending on the weather.

We are a family of six, so trying to fit that many cots is not an option. We also use air mattresses, Intex makes a nice inexpensive one with a travel pump. My two youngest (4 & 6) sleep on a yoga mat.

my friends just bought 5 i think she got them from Kohls online maybe $60 each.

We use an air mattress. We wouldn't leave home without it. Our kids 4and 6 use nap mats and a sleeping bag on the floor. They have never complained. They always say they sleep good.

Do you have a few old sleeping bags (those thick ones) or outdoor furniture cushions. Check out your local thrift stores and use them in place of cots to sleep on. More comfortable than this ...
Frances Anne Hopkins painting ... https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/FAH_Voyageurs.jpg
... OR ...
Spend $300 to $500 on 5 cots that you probably won't use that often.

I always wonder about folks who prefer cots. What are the reasons? My family never liked them. The cross bars always hurt even with padding ( like sleeping on a pull out sofa bed. There is always a bar sticking in your back). And being up off the ground allows that cold air underneath we found it harder to keep warm ( although that might be a plus in hot weather camping) if you only use a tarp or your tent leaks I guess a cot would keep you dry up off the ground from water seeping under.

Amanda from Seattle

I have a great cot from REI, no cross bar in middle. Very comfy.

We have 3 different kinds of cots and none of them have bars across them (near your back). Cots are great for 2 reasons- you can store stuff under them and you don't have to mess with pumps for air mattresses (are the batteries good, is there a place to plug it in, etc).

Also, for air mattresses, we have gone through a few because of leaks. We keep buying the $20 air mattresses, so that could be why.
I can't convince my husband to switch to cots, because they take up so much room in our van that we need for the rest of the camping supplies.

We are in the market for a new tent, since hubby doesn't know his own strength....
He wants to get one of those L shaped tents with the two or so rooms by Ozark.
I know nothing about them except we saw one on a camping trip and he thought it was cool. It is an online only product.

I am wondering if this is the best option? He wants space, to be seperate from the kids, and to be able to stand up inside the tent. He says if we want him to go camping with us, he'll go more often if we have a huge tent....

But, he does work weekends, so if the kids and I want to go during the school year, we won't need a humongous tent. We do have a small one, but we have outgrown it.

Does anyone have suggestions on a good tent that you don't have to put all they way up, or have seperate rooms or parts that you can put one up and not the other? I hope someone understands what I'm asking...

or would it be better just to go ahead and get two different tents?

TIA!

The one I have is from Walmart. I got it several years ago, but I think you can still get it. It is essentially two six person tents that zip together. You can banish the kids to one, but still have access to them through a very short tunnel. The tunnel zips closed when the other tent is not there, so you can leave one tent at home when you don't need it (just make sure you have all the parts you need when you do that). I go camping with the boy scouts and always take my own tent, so I don't need both of those huge tents and always leave one at home.

Thanks Alaska hsm, but a search for those has proved unsuccessful. I had seen those before, just never in use.

I'll keep looking and see what we can find. :)

Honestly, life for you will be better with two tent, a small one for the kiddies and a bigger one for you and the hubby.

Six years ago we got, at a fair amount of expense, an REI Hobitat Four. Easy to set up, big enough to stand in, and we got the add on foyer as well. In the span of two months we camped in it six times, and five of those six it rained. Not just a little, but poured rain all night each time.

A storm one night at Lincoln State Park in Indiana was so bad that the thunder literally shook the ground and you could smell the ozone from the lightning. When we got up most of the campground had left, and the few that stayed were soaked. We never got wet!

If you can, spend the money and get a very good, well made tent. Do the research, read the reviews, and get the best you can if you plan on camping any amount of time. It makes the experience much more enjoyable when you are not soaking wet from a little drizzle because you bought a poor quality tent.

BTW, we have since upgraded to a teardrop trailer. Love it!

Thanks! Good info to keep in mind. We'd love a trailer, just not an option at this time. On the list

http://www.anotherlongwalk.com/2016/03/day-156-gulf-hagas-detour.html
Photo of Lower Falls
Is it my imagination or does it look like the water is spilling onto a man-made base?
Was there something there once upon a time?

Hi there: I saw that earlier today, but never registered it as anything but a water fall over rock... just did a relook based on your note... I still don't see anything that strikes me as man made... even eroded a lot. Since I've never been there, I'll leave a verdict for someone who knows better (local).

My own opinion remains as natural erosion collapse... I'll see if I can pull anything more out later... but I'm fighting a head cold and the cough syrup leaves me a bit (lot) giddy. I'm always open to change of opinion though...

Doug 7rxc

the splash area looks like neatly laid cobblestones.
look just below the pointy end of the log.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QAnNztVEk4U/Vo6mJA_meOI/AAAAAAAAWgY/Uc7rBRBgc7s/s1600/Dscn7192.jpg

OMG, thx for ALL the feels!

I lived with a Depression-era relative & grew up eating chipped beef on toast with peas & new potatoes every Thursday night for 3 yrs.

Bisquik you add just water to and make some pancakes. Easy peasy. Throw some sausages in the pan and you've got a quick breakfast.

Holy cow, it's been a long time since I saw Dian's name. She has lots of awesome ideas.

Anyone out there camp in a tent trailer ? Year , make , model - likes , dislikes ? AC or no AC ?

We had one in my teens but its been so long i cant really remember too much - im considering buying a used one ....

I have had two TTs in the past and enjoyed both. One was basically a tent on wheels w/ one pull out bunk, table and that was it. Good for one or two 'cozy' people. Easy to attach, haul and set up.
The other was a Palomino w/ two pull outs, kitchenette, table, fridge, no AC. You can get them now with more luxury, motorized set up etc. They are no longer a very cheap camping item but worth the money if you like it. Good luck.