While in California, Brielle and I got to go camping with my family to Sequoia National Forest (actually Kings Canyon). It was WONDERFUL!! I loved it. We camped in this same area every summer when I was growing up. It felt so good to be back. It's beautiful.
I was a bit nervous going camping. I wondered how I would sleep being 32 weeks pregnant and how Brie would sleep in a tent. Luckily, we both slept great and my mom took care of everything else. I've always been amazed that she used to take 9 kids camping for a week and cook all the meals over the fire. How did she plan for it? Pack for it? Actually do it? Well, I was amazed again. This time she planned, packed and took care of everything for us. We went up the first day with Laura and her three kids, Sarah and her one year old, Me and Brie and my mom and Krista (15 years old). She helped us set up camp and she built the fire and cooked for us. What a woman!!! Some moms take their daughters shopping and for manicures. I am SO GLAD I have a mom that wants to take her daughters and grand kids to the mountains for camping and hiking.
The first night in camp was "interesting". Each of us was in our own tent with our children. The babies didn't sleep so well, so we heard a bit of crying through the night. I had to go to the bathroom and luckily, so did everyone else at 4am. We were all in our beds freaking ourselves out that there were bears that were going to come grab our children out of their beds. We made it through the night and in the morning all was well and no one was eaten by a bear. The next night went better when my dad, brother and brother-in-law joined us.
I love camping. It's relaxing. It's beautiful. It is great family time. We talked and ate and went on walks and just let the kids play and get as filthy as possible. I have a ton of pictures (everyone was testing my camera out). I liked looking through them and thought the family might also, so I have posted a lot of them. Enjoy! Thank you Mom for a great camping trip back to the Sequoias.
The kids stepped out of the van upon arrival and were immediately up this hill playing with sticks in the dirt.
This is Brielle's cute little outfit and face about 10 minutes after we arrived. She had a great time.
Kea and Brie had a good time jumping on my mom's air mattress/raft. Their own camping trampoline.
Each of the kids got close up shots with my camera. Here is Davin being the tough man that would defend us from the bears and squirrels.
Kea - with her face at the cleanest we would see for three days.
Cute Blake with his beanie.
Aiden. He is always such a good poser for the camera. So cute!
Brielle - with yet another dirty face.
Alicia and Brie's tent. It was quite comfortable. She had a pack-n-play that she slept in the whole night through comfortably and I had a twin air mattress. That was luxury camping for us.
Laura, Davin and Kea roasting marshmallows for their s'mores.
Mom and her "baby" Krista.
Here are Mom and the girls and their kids eating breakfast in the morning.
Kea was so excited about her hot chocolate with marshmallows. Looks good huh?
Brielle leading Kea and Davin through the forest.
We did an easy, paved walk through the Sequoia trees with the kids.
Sarah and Aiden taking a break on our "hike".
My mom pushed the two tired kids (Brie and Aiden) to the end. Here they are admiring a huge, beautiful Sequoia.
Kea, Davin and Brie looking for animals in the trees.
We all had afternoon naps and then played some more. Brie, Kea and Aiden climbed this rock. Well, not so much Aiden.
Brie got a ride in the "swing". 
Brie enjoying the relax time in the hammock.
Finally! Grandpa got there! Grandpa, Brie and Kea ate a lot of watermelon together. 
My mom and dad made delicious chicken fajitas for everyone for dinner! They really know how to cook over a camp fire.
The "crawler babies" were kept in this play pen to keep them out of the dirt. They played with toys, dumped toys out and rolled around on top of each other.
In the morning, my dad made everyone "Eggs-in-a-Frame". This is an Allred family favorite and they were just as good as ever!
Landon and Aiden waiting for breakfast.
Alicia and Brie playing by the morning camp fire.
Brian and Blake in the morning. I realize this isn't the best picture of Brian, but it cracks me up every time I look at it. Look at Blake's grin compared to Brian's. They are identical. Very cute and funny.
Brie eating/destroying her "egg-in-a-frame" breakfast with a fork and knife.
Kea and Brie spent a long time in my tent after breakfast "freshening up".
They also had story time together. Kea sang all kinds of songs as she flipped the pages of the book.
Kea put herself here because she got in trouble. She later asked if she could "come out".
We went on a hike to the largest Sequoia grove in the world.
Krista, Blake, Dad and Brie made it a few steps and then rested and waited here for us.
Don't I look prepared for a hike. Everyone else had hiking shoes and jeans on. I guess I don't have a wide variety of maternity camping clothes.
We stopped here to rest and snack before heading back uphill.
Brie and her hiking stick.
We had a picnic at the top before we got back in the cars to head home.
Brie downing watermelon again. She stood up from this spot and fell right in the dirt. Luckily, that was her only injury and it was minor. Kea can not say the same.
It's been a week, I know, but I thought I'd post the pictures from our Pioneer Day. Pioneer Day (July 24) is a holiday in Utah, but Scott still had to work. That was fine by us, because we had just returned from California. So, Brie and I watched the Salt Lake City Pioneer Day parade on TV and enjoyed just staying home.
