I just love summer! The fireflies are finally stirring, the nights are still and warm, and the birds treat us to a beautiful symphony every morning. We have been wanting to camp out for quite awhile, but we thought before we go away somewhere, we'd try it in the backyard for a couple of nights.

We had been wanting a tent for a long time. Last February, we found a $250 tent on the back shelf of a local retailer for almost 75% off! This tent is great - sleeps 8, has dividers for privacy, has an attached screened canopy, and a removable fly so you can look up at the stars through screens (yay, no insects).

We set up the tent in the backyard on Friday. Mr. Steady built a little fire, and we roasted turkey dogs and marshmallows. We had a great time sitting outside, watching the sun go down, looking at the fireflies lighting up the meadow beside our home. It was a great evening because T-Rex was in a familiar place with all his outdoor toys. He remained fairly calm.

I wasn't sure how he'd do in the tent, since it was a little break from his routine. However, he did pretty well. He was a little anxious and required deep pressure from his weighted blanket. He also made me hold him really tightly and apply deep pressure to his back until he went to sleep. After the kids were asleep, Mr. Steady and I looked at the beautiful night sky with all its stars and quietly talked until well after midnight.

I am such a wimp - sleeping on the hard ground left me very stiff and in a little pain the next morning, so I grabbed an old twin size mattress and put it in there for the next night. Survivorwoman I'm not.

I slept very well the second night, but we couldn't remove the fly because of a light rain throughout the night. T-Rex went to sleep much better and ended up curling up on the mattress with me. Mr. Steady and the other kids poked a little good-natured fun at my mattress, but at least I didn't wake up with a backache.

This backyard camp out was a great way to gauge how T-Rex would do on a camping trip. We decided he's not ready for a "go away" trip just yet, but we have a great spot in the backyard for several more camp outs this summer. It'll save us gas money as well.

Our backyard camp out was one of the best staycations I've had in a long time. Next time we're going to do even more by visiting some trails at local parks, then coming home and having another cookout, catching fireflies and letting them go, and reading stories by firelight. We can have a weekend worth of fun for very little cost and even less headache (no tired kids in the car asking if we're there yet).

I'm already looking forward to it!