The tent!

I ordered our tent today and an air mattress for me and the husband. The tent is one I had planned on getting early on. But you know how you do research, check prices, read reviews. Anyway, too much research and review reading is bad for you. I was at a point of total indecision on what tent to get. I went with this one because the reviews were great. In stood up in the rain, and that is what matters to me.
I went camping last summer with my kids and my father and mother in law. It was a quick weekend. We didn't get started until late and had a hard time finding the place. We borrowed a tent from hubby's cousin, who also had air mattresses. Yay for saving money. Somehow the clothesline got left behind with the mini bungee cords. We spent an arm and a leg on firewood since you aren't allowed to bring any in past a 50 mile radius. And the last night it rained. On us, in the tent. Nothing is worse than sleeping in a wading pool, I'm telling you. We literally wrung water out of the blankets as we were packing under our sadly sagging tarp that didn't cover anything. Oh yeah, the air mattress leaked. I woke up, wet and cold, on the ground with a flat air mattress under me. And to top it off, the wood was wet and we couldn't get a fire started to even make coffee (the small propane stove we had worked, only it was out of fuel).
From that trip I learned what NOT to do. Do not come unprepared, even for a few days. And a dry tent can make or break the trip. As we were leaving, I looked down the hill and was amazed at another campsite. They had a tarp covering their tent, and it stretched all the way to the fire. The rain did not bother them. They were sitting, dry, at the picnic table enjoying hot coffee. I was jealous as all get out, but I took mental notes. That camper will be me! I will not get wet again.
I hope I don't go overboard with the plans on not getting wet. And that did factor into the tent decision. I was going to purchase a smaller dome tent, but hubby wanted one he could stand in. That meant I had to get one over 6 feet tall: Cabin tent! and that had the dimensions I needed. Well, after reading the reviews, the tent I was going to get seemed pretty bad in any kind of weather. And where we are headed, they are known for their severe summer storms, including strong gusty winds, thunder, lightening, and tornado watches. I need something that will stand up to the elements. This is going to be our home for the next two months, and it has to be as comfortable as possible.
The tent should get here tomorrow. If its' early enough, we'll set it up, but it might have to wait another day. Then I will post pics of our new tent, and maybe some shots of what our kitchen should look like, bare bones.