Big Love Camping: 5 Moms, 13 Kids, and a Gazillion Memories

This was the sixth year of our annual Big Love camping trip! The gist is a bunch of moms (us plus three friends) gather a bunch of kids (mostly our own, but there are some tag-a-longs) and go to the biggest ol’ cabin/conference center in Janes Island State Park, near Crisfield, MD.

Now we realize the name Big Love may give you an entirely new opinion of us, so just check out how it all–more or less innocently–began here.  There’s even Ellen’s first and last attempt at drawing a cartoon. You don’t want to miss that. It’s like a collector’s item without any value or the ability to collect it.

In addition, we are pretty sick and tired of the dazzlement fading in people’s eyes when we tell them we stay in a cabin. It’s not luxury people. You can check out our accommodations here. BE IMPRESSED WITH US. THIRTEEN. KIDS.

So as you can see, we’ve written about our experiences quite a bit. If you are left wanting even more back story, you can check out our additional mayhem, mishaps, and monkey business. The Pizza Hut story still has the ability to make Ellen snort laugh, and she generally does not find Italian food particularly amusing.

So what is there left to write? Well, this year our trip (almost) coincided with BonBon Break (an online magazine for the modern mom) asking us to take over its Instagram feed for its Slice of Summer (#bonbonbreaksos) series.

How To Camp WIth 5 Moms and 13 Kids: Also: Recipe for Oven S'mores. Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

 

We were allotted eight photos to tell our story and since our mommas taught us manners, we started with an introduction. We shared a split screen of us–our “made an effort” personas and our “in the wild” selves.  Let’s just say the “made an effort” sighting is rare indeed.

Next came Vicky, Mary, and Laura, our three other partners in crime or fellow looney bin wardens, depending on the way you look at it. Mary was a sorority girl like Ellen and always makes us do the heart pose. Semi-ironically, of course. The backdrop for this photo is the view from our cabin: the beautiful Janes Island channel and marsh.

This photo is proof positive this trip is sacred to us. Mary was being treated for early Lyme disease and was suffering from the sun sensitivity of doxycycline, but that didn’t stop her from joining in on fun at the Tangier Sound beach in Crisfield. She even made it look gorgeous in a Monet-esque sort of way.

If the last picture belongs in the Louvre, this one would be more at home introducing a music video, specifically Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Shot on location in Assateague.

Our girls weren’t the only wild things on Assateague; there were the legendary ponies too. This blonde beauty actually looks like it’s in the middle of the wilderness, but it’s really just resting after pilfering a beach bag. They were there first after all–since the 1600’s. If they want the Cheez-its, they are going to take the Cheez-its, dangnabbit.

We didn’t  spend all of our time at the beach. There was plenty of quiet moments spent exploring around our cabin. The “Littles” loved searching for periwinkles.

Canoeing is another tradition of Big Love. Warning: Don’t ask our girls if they like it unless you enjoy teenage angst raining down upon you. They don’t appreciate (yet) just how good they have it. The smiles in Erin’s canoe tell the real story . . . or at least the one we’re sticking to.

But the girls are totally into jumping from piers. We ended our reign of the BonBon Break feed with this epic shot

Seriously, we should be in a Country Time Lemonade commercial, right?

Well, maybe.

There were the Instagram moments of our trip–that all really happened, shut up. And then there were ALL of the other moments of our trip, the B-side if you will (and if you’re old enough to remember vinyl records). Moments such as this one:

Big Love Camping - Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

We think the word y’all are looking for to describe this photo is “purdy.”

Oh and we started the trip off with a particular child of a particular mom locking the car keys in the trunk during our first stop at Tuckahoe. (All names are withheld to protect the not-so-innocent-and-most-definitely-scatterbrained.)

Good times. Good times.

Good times. Good times.

Here are our lovely and appreciative offspring accommodating our desire to take one lousy group photo.

So funny. Wait, does funny mean the same as exasperating?

So funny. Wait, does funny mean the same as exasperating?

And while the picture of the pony on the dune we shared on Instagram was the best shot, there were many pictures snapped to get that perfect one. We submit for your viewing pleasure the photo voted “Most Likely to Make a 10 Year Old Boy Snicker.”

A majestic creature taking a majestic dump.

A majestic creature majestically relieving itself.

Admit it. You giggled, too, but we’re done horsing around. (Get it??) We’re going to leave you with our silver lining. Because of all the fun, we forgot to orchestrate the S’more Sticky Time Jamboree until the last night . . . and then it stormed. All was ruined!

But five resourceful moms armed with smartphones and the power of Google cannot be foiled by rain and lightning. We discovered the ease and joy of making S’mores in the oven. No sharp pointy, gooey sticks! No burn unit roulette with the Littles! No crying over marshmallows lost in the flames! We are converts. We have vowed to plan S’mores Time for rainy nights from now on.

We discovered a miracle on our cabin camping trip! No Flame Oven Smores - Sisiterhood of the Sensible Moms

Oven S’mores

Ingredients

Graham crackers, Hershey Chocolate Bars, and Marshmallows (duh)

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Lay half of graham cracker squares on a cookie sheet.
  • Top each square with chocolate pieces to cover and a marshmallow.
  • Place in oven for about 3 to 5 minutes or until marshmallows puff up and are golden brown. Watch them constantly. Things can go from perfect to burned in a moment.
  • Remove from oven and quickly top with the remaining graham squares. Smoosh it good, real good.

 

Until next year, enjoy!

Ellen and Erin

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Check out our books, “I Just Want to Be Alone” and “You Have Lipstick on Your Teeth.”

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