A BIRTHDAY CAMP-"IN"

The week before Luke's 4th Birthday, Marc and I decided that the boys were probably old enough now to go Camping. We got this idea when we visited the Hunt Camp, and thought that it would be the perfect spot to camp. So for his birthday, we decided that that was what we were going to do - go Camping!! Well as the week went along, the weather wasn't looking too promising, and we were starting to doubt our decision. A couple of days before the weekend, we thought it was best to go with Plan "B" - a Camp-"In".

On Saturday morning, I started moving things around in preparation of setting up the Indoor Camp Site. The boys were pretty excited with the new furniture placement. They enjoyed watching their shows from the comfort of their Camp Chairs.

As soon as the tent was set up, Luke had to try out his new Sleeping Bag.

I even served them lunch on their plastic "School" trays.

In the afternoon, Marc kept them preoccupied outside while I finished setting everything up. I wanted Luke to be able to walk in and see everything ready for his Birthday Camp-"In".

The Camp Site

Campground Sign

Just in case you weren't sure where the tent was located. Do you like the additional little artwork that Grey added to the signs?

The HoBo Bags with Name Tags

Didn't want Max to miss out on his 4th Birthday.

Mini S'mores Station

Also had the necessary Trail Mix

Seating for around the Camp "Fire"

The Camp "Fire"

Our Sleeping Quarters

Twinkling Starlight

Right after lunch I had Marc run me up the road to pick these Wildflowers that I had seen. I thought they would be perfect in the Blue Speckle Ware Coffee Pot. Unbeknownst to both of us, it was Ragweed. Needless to say, Marc was sneezing All. Night. Long.

Our Camp Site

The Birthday Boy

A Mini S'more... Graham Cereal Square, Mini Marshmallow and a Chocolate Chip

The boys enjoying them.

These customized water bottles, along with a flashlight, were in the HoBo bags.

After the Camp Site had been visited and inspected, we headed down to the Lake for our Annual Balloon Release for Max.

It was as if Max was saying "Thank You"!

Marc had made a Fire Pit that afternoon, so we introduced the boys to the joy of Roasting Marshmallows. They really didn't find as much "Joy" in it as we did, so our time as a family sitting around the fire was short lived.

So we headed inside to enjoy our Indoor Camp "Fire".

Luke liked hanging out in the tent with the lantern and his flashlight.

We had given Luke a movie for his birthday, which we allowed him to open that evening. We set up the little TV inside the tent so that they boys could watch it, and Hopefully fall asleep.

Yeah Right. Even though neither of them had had a nap, and they had been playing hard all day, the few marshmallows that they had eaten, kept them going strong. I finally had to put Grey in his bed so he would calm down and go to sleep, which he did, pretty much immediately. Luke eventually fell asleep and stayed in the tent until about 4:00 in the morning, when he called out saying he wanted to get in his bed.

Marc and I both felt this was a pretty good test run for the real thing. Not sure we would have made it if we had REALLY gone camping.

START OF THE BIRTHDAY WEEKEND

On the Friday of Luke's Birthday weekend, I took the boys down to the beach, while we waited for Marc to get home from work. Got some cute pics while there.

Finally figured out a way to get a picture of myself with my boys.

I had just started learning Photoshop, and edited this photo of Grey using it. I have to say, it's one of my all time favorite pics of him.

COOL IDEA

Over Labor Day weekend, one of the families that I photographed over the summer, showed me what they did with the pictures I took of them.

They had them all printed in a hard-bound book. How cool is that?

B'DAY TREATS FOR SCHOOL

The Thursday before Luke's birthday, I wanted to send him to school with some little treats for his classmates, to help him celebrate turning 4. Earlier in the week, I got the grandiose idea of baking and making the Cheeseburger Cupcakes that I had first made a couple of years ago. Remember these...

Well this Birthday Batch didn't turn out quite so realistic looking.

The icing I bought this time never set, and basically immediately started to melt. I was so sad.

But I think they were still cute with the little Pennant Banners I stuck in them.

Miss Sarah, Luke's teacher, took some photos during class (which I'm still trying to get copies of and get them here on the blog), but when we got home after school, I got a shot of Luke enjoying one of the left over ones.

You can go here to see the pictures from class.

HUNT CAMP

We hadn't been to Marc's hunt camp (as a family) since spring, so we decided to visit one afternoon.

I took the opportunity to photograph a few things around the camp.

Grey went exploring.

Luke played in the dirt.

Love the deer skulls strapped to a tree.

GONE FISHIN'

Back at the beginning of September, we had a beautiful evening... perfect for a little Fishing. Grey is now to the age where his attention span is a long enough to keep him interested in holding his fishing pole.

Note in the picture above who is holding the kiddie pole.

Marc and his little fishing buddies.

Grey does pretty good at reeling in his line.

However, he's not too keen on getting close to his catch.

He did really good this particular evening, catching the most... 3.

Luke also did a little fishing.

Sweet pic of our newest little angler.

So Serious and Determined...

but Scared.

Luke wasn't all that interested in fishing on this particular occasion. He was content to explore the contents of the tackle box.

OH THE CURLS

Just some cute pics of Grey taken back at the beginning of September.

I SOOO do not want to cut his hair. My baby will be gone forever if I do.