The boys are cleaning their reels, checking the tackle boxes, Froggy has her check list out, the girls are going through it with her, and I'm checking the gear. The two little dog's (patches and pork chop) are following us around, making sure not to let us out of their site.





They know it's time to head to the lake, go camping.

As soon as the activity starts these two have been around long enough to know and they're not about to be left behind.

This is where it all starts, planning and getting ready. We have been at it so many years and after a few shortcomings on our first few trips, the master planner, Froggy, made up a list that has everything on it that we need for a trip.

Aw mom, I hear, that means she just nailed one of them to get a jacket. No matter how hot it is, she makes sure we all take a jacket, and I for one am glad, because I remember the times we went and it was boiling out, just to get to the lake and a cool front comes in.

The list is broken down into kitchen items, swim wear, boat gear, fishing gear, any gear you can name it's there. For most of our kitchen stuff, we bought extra pans and utensils and keep it all stored in a plastic tote tub. Not only are we sure to have what we need by this method, the tubs are very easy to stack, and light stuff that would fly out is safely tucked away.

Part of the planning is the meals. We plan a menu, get the items and pack it away. I used to say she plans too much, but the way she does it makes it very easy on us when we get to camp and want to have fun and enjoy. And since I do most of the cooking, I sure am happy to have everything I need and not come up short. With her method, we just have to add or subtract items, depending on how long we're going to be out.

Well, the boat's hooked up to the truck, and now the loading. We load the boat and the pickup and put tarps over both. Usually, it's the boys with me in the pickup and the girls with her in the van. But now that the boys have their own vehicles, Brandon a Ford Ranger and Tim, a jeep, they like to take their own, leaving dad to go by himself or with Britnee. Let's head to the lake and set up camp.

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