How did it get so complicated?

Mark and I have been talking about going camping with some friends of ours this weekend. We've been camping with them many times before and have gotten pretty good at picking a place and being ready to go within a few hours. We've gotten good at being spontaneous. That is, until kids. They have a 6-week-old, and we have Carter and Winston. This weekend's trip planning went something like this:

Tuesday: Propose trip with maps and book descriptions of climbing route for Dave and Mark and kid-friendly campsites for Kelly, Erin, and kids.

Wednesday: Continue discussion of logistics and how former weekend plans can be rescheduled.

Thursday: 15 calls back and forth regarding weather. Failed attempts at reserving a campsite. Decide that destination is too high in altitude anyway. 15 more calls about other possibilities that are low in altitude and warm, near a 14er with a good snow route, not too far a drive, and not too crowded. Decide the trip isn't worth it. Reconsider. Call back. Finally, Mark and Dave pick a mountain to climb Saturday and then will meet Kelly and Erin at new campsite. Assign cars and passengers.

On the schedule for Friday: Grocery shop, laundry, pack, weld picnic table, shop for camp chairs, pick up bike at the shop.

Somehow, we have taken a four hour process from idea to departure and turned it into a grueling marathon of phone calls, scheduling, and weighing options. I think we'll get better at the whole routine, but it definitely takes practice and experience with a little one. I'll let you know how the trip goes and whether it was all worth it.

Here's a picture of Carter at his first attempt at camping almost a year ago. Hopefully this time will be cleaner, too.