Call of the Wild

So the weekend before this last we finally went camping with the kids for the first time. Sad, I know. Naturally, the kids freaked with delight as we let them loose in the open after being cooped up in the house for... well, ever. Poor kids. In the first 10 mins they saw 2 rabbits, a duck and all kinds of cool-looking birds - you know, something different from the nasty Grackels who love to poop on our car.
Unfortunately we got a really late start so when I discovered just 1/2 mile from the house that our camera batteries were dead, my request to go back was over-ridden by a very anxious Mark, who proved to show great foresight and wisdom since our timing secured for us the last of the "secluded" campsites not 10 minutes before a herd of trucks and trailers overflowing with obnoxious boy scouts pulled in, taking the rest of the spots.
So, this being our first camp-out with the kids I, naturally, learned some good things to remember for next time that I will graciously pass along...

1. Bring your own TP.
2. Either bring your own firewood or be prepared to climb dead trees and break off limbs.
3. There is no shame in using "scout juice."
4. S'mores are just too big to fit IN little mouths.
5. A blackend hot dog does not necessarily indicate that the inside is no longer frozen.
6. In order for a grill to work on a campfire, it actually has to be over the fire, not just beside it.
7. You actually can crack an egg in a lunch sack, throw in a strip of bacon, and cook it over the fire without the bag going up in flames. And it IS edible (haha Jon & Dad who laughed at me for years for saying it really worked). Although if you have the choice to use a dutch oven instead you are just stupid not to.
8. Bringing a little potty-trainer potty is about the best thing you can bring next to a tent and matches. And that's not just for the kids.
9. Make sure if you have to use the potty-trainer potty in the middle of the night there aren't boy scouts across the way who are also up and about and watching you.
10. If you decide to get frisky with your sweetheart, make absolute certain that the kids are in fact still asleep. Or in another tent.