Camping Tip Number One: "Pack the Essentials"

Abby sat the bag down on the floor and balanced Lauren on her hip as she unlocked the apartment door. She lightly kicked the door open with her foot and picked up the shopping bag again. She stopped in her tracks and looked over the living room. There were boxes and sleeping bags and a tent spread out everywhere. She wrinkled her nose at the musty smell.

"Luka!" she hollered as she leaned back and shut the door behind her. She made her way to the dining table and set the shopping bag there. She smiled at the baby and kissed her forehead.

"Luka!" she called again and stepped over a pile of aluminum dishes as she headed for the playpen in front of the street front windows. She put Lauren in the playpen and slipped the baby's sweater from her. She handed her a ring of plastic keys and grinned as the little girl stuck them right into her mouth. She stood up and sighed as she surveyed the mess before her once again.

"Luka Kovac...front and center...right now!" she demanded.

"Hey!" Luka grinned as he hurried down the staircase with a purple snow suit in his hands. "When did you get back?" Abby looked around the room. Luka followed her gaze and grinned wider.

"Just checking to make sure something doesn't need to be replaced," he said. "So far, we're in luck." He hurriedly stuck the baby's snowsuit in a box and then gestured.

"We have the tent...," he said. "The sleeping bags should probably be cleaned. I've got dishes...lanterns..." He patted a metal green box.

"And a cook stove." Abby grimaced as she looked everything over.

"Wouldn't it be easier to just go to a hotel?" she asked. His face fell.

"Maybe..." he shrugged and watched her as she made her way slowly around the room. Abby smiled a little and picked up a fishing pole. She turned the handle on the reel and looked up as she flipped the pole in a small pretend cast.

"Remind me to pack a couple of suture kits," she said. "The last time I used one of these I sliced my finger open on a hook." Luka grinned. Abby pulled the snowsuit out of the box.

"This is the new one we bought on sale for next winter," she said as she shook it out. "What are you doing with it?" He shrugged.

"Ummm...just packing it...in case," he said. Abby raised her eyebrows.

"A snow suit? For Michigan in... June?" Luka grimaced a bit with a grin.

"Uh...it...might get a little cold at night," he said. "You know...under the trees in the state park." Abby rolled her eyes.

"Cold? And we'll be in a tent?"

"Just in case," he said as he took the snow suit from her and stuffed it back in the box. "And you and I..." Luka wrapped his arms around her. He nodded toward the sleeping bags laying across the chair.

"They zip together...rather cozy..." he sighed. Abby chuckled and melted into his embrace. She leaned her head against his chest for a moment and then looked up at him.

"What if I have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night?" she asked. He reached over and took a flashlight from another box. Abby rolled her eyes.

"I think I'll hold it till morning," she said. Luka laughed.

"Good thing we have a coffee maker..." she said as she tipped her head back down. Luka's face fell again and he grimaced.

"Uh...Abby..." he said slowly. "The only campsites that were still available didn't have electrical access."

"What does that mean?" she asked.

"Uh...no plugs?" He snickered to himself as he felt her straighten in his arms.

"No plugs?" she said as she stood back a bit. "No coffee maker? I have to have coffee."

"I have a percolating coffee pot," he said. "I'll make it on the fire for you any time you want some." Abby sighed.

"Are you sure we're going to enjoy this?" she asked with her hands on her hips. Luka smiled and nodded.

"I promise," he said. He pulled her back into his arms and then looked toward the playpen. Lauren had pulled herself up and was standing agains the sides. She waswatching them seriously with a finger in her mouth. Abby laughed as Luka inched them closer and closer to the playpen. He reached down to lift their daughter into his arms. They stood snuggled together in the middle of all the camping essentials, both of his girls chuckling as he pressed kisses from one of their cheeks to another.