Maple Canyon

There are quite a few reasons I avoid going camping. For one thing there is all the gear you need for sleeping, cooking, eating, hiking, climbing, safety, and just the general day to day. Then there is the dirtiness; I'm fine with getting dirty, I even sometimes like that, it's the staying dirty for long periods of time. But then I see little ones getting ready to climb and I think okay maybe its fun.

And then someone gets hurt and there is lots of blood and I start to question our decision again. (Maisy hit her head, hard, on a rock. Very scary.)
But ultimately, the marshmallow chipmunk cheeks,...
campfires,...
kids cooking their own food,...
laughing at said kids,...
morning views from the tent,...
cold and groggy morning smiles,...
warm sun in the canyon,...
happy hikers,...
silly faces,...
curious kids,...
helpful daddy,...
Jack holding my hand so I won't fall,...
trying to take the canyon home one piece at a time...
and happy kids win me over.
Although it may take me another year to try again.