"You Be So Happy With Me!"

Yesterday Logan ran in the house and made be laugh so hard I almost peed my pants.

Logan..."Mom, you be so happy with me.....cause I ALMOST pooped my pants.....but you won't be mad cause I SUCKED IT BACK UP!"

Now that is talent....ha, ha....

Rock Fort

At first when we were camping the kids were bummed because it wasn't a camp ground with thick forest, like Rainbow Campground by Big Lake.

But they soon discovered all the big rocks and decided to make a Rock Fort! They would work on it off and on... In the beginning...

Almost There....

Putting the finishing touches on it....

The completed Rock Fort!

Hunter even found a already made spear while out doing a geo cache.

Enjoying the swing we brought back from Black River for Kiersten.

We fished, we ate well, we took walks, we rode Kiersten's electric scooter and Hunter's electric motorcycle around camp, we made forts, we floated boats down the river, we went on many geo caches, we had smores and had a great time making memories to last a lifetime!

The Faces Say It ALL...

These Faces Tell So Much About Our Trip....

EXCITEMENT! SWEET TIMES!

PURE JOY........and Pocket Knife Time!

ENJOYING NATURE......and eating Rocks!

Carving while having some sugar!

Happy Happy

And a Wee Bit of CRAZINESS!

It was so much fun we all want to do it again together real soon!

Match Stick Man

So Quincy has all the COOL camping gear that Justin doesn't have but now "Needs"

Justin took full advantage of Quincy's axe! Justin got the nickname"Match Stick Man" because he turned several logs into match stick size twigs. He just couldn't stop slicing! Gloria thought it was hilarious! I told Justin he might not be allowed to buy an axe if he was going to spend hours making match sticks with the fire wood..........ha, ha............it was fun to tease Justin! He told the kids how much better the fire would be because of his kindling!

Nice fire starter.........thanks Quincy....Justin now "needs" one of these too!

Fire.......Fire.....

AWESOME FIRE...... MATCH STICK MAN!

Labor Day in Greer

For Labor Day we took Quincy, Gloria and Avry camping with us to Greer.

Roasting marshmallows is always a part of camping! Our kids were in heaven with Quincy and Gloria because they are "real campers" as Hunter put it. Our kids always want us to make breakfast over a camp fire but we just don't. So they were thrilled when Gloria and Quincy made a yummy breakfast OVER A REAL CAMP FIRE!

I have to admit it was very good.........eggs, pancakes, bacon, and sausage! DELICIOUS!!!

It got a big clap from Mr. Grant!

He was such a good baby just playing in his walker!

We went into Greer in hopes of catching fish in the creek.......but decided to just let the kids play and to then try fishing at Black River, which is about a 45 minute ride. We took the truck and Quincy drove the rail with all the kids, minus Mr. Grant. So the kids even had fun on the drive.

But we had to get a few fun pictures before we left!

We made it to Black River........YIPPEE!

I just love being a MOMMY!

I feel so blessed to have the kids I do...........they are such great people!

Logan and Avry were feeling left out and wanted a picture with Mr. Grant!

These two have a great time playing together! Logan is so sweet to his little "Avry Janie" as he calls her!

Logan also LOVES soda!

He doesn't get it a lot at home but on trips he has more then his share.

Strawberry soda is his favorite!

Silly Kiddos!

Quincy is such a great daddy and Uncle! He is so good to my kids and I love him for it!

Kiersten made a little boat to float down the river! Kiersten is such a good little helper. Gloria mentioned several times that she needs a Kiersten at her house!

Kiersten chasing after her boat! I love how being in nature sparks my kids creativity!

Watch it go!

Mr. Grant loves Avry and Avry loves eating his yogurt snacks!

Not sure what this pose is for but I thought it was funny!

One word that can describe Logan is RANDOM!

Avry and her Daddy! We had no luck catching fish but we had fun anyways.

Kiersten had been a bit whinny about wanting a swing while we had been camping. Well guess what............we found a stick swing already to be swung on! Kiersten was in HEAVEN!

There was no more whining from Kiersten!

Back at camp the kids enjoyed warming up by the crackling fire!

Hunter was a Toe Roaster!

Kiersten was a Bum Roaster!

I LOVE the smile on Mr. Grant's face as he looks at his Daddy!

Priceless! It was so fun and the weather was great!

Pepsi in Heaven?

While we were driving in the car today, Logan was talking to me about Jesus, heaven, Heavenly Father, dying, the resurrection and all sorts of stuff. It was nice to hear him talk about Jesus and what he has been taught.

Then there was a pause in the conversation. Logan returned to the subject with a worried comment.

Logan, "Mom I really don't want to die."

Mom, "You don't need to worry about dying. Everyone will die at some point but you don't need to be afraid, you just need to make good choices and follow Jesus so when you do return to heaven you'll be able to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus."

Logan, " Okay mom if you say....but I really don't want to die.......cause mom, what if they don't have SODA IN HEAVEN?"

I just had to laugh and then reassure Logan that there will be Pepsi in heaven! Ha, ha....

I have so much to work on it's not even funny!

Camping Party

I had a fun time making these invites for Hunter's party. I especially love that Hunter wanted to talk about what his invites were going to be like. Debbie did a fabulous job on Hunter's Camping Birthday Cake He LOVED it!

Such a Happy Camper he was!

Hunter invited friends from school and a couple of boy cousins since he had already had his family/cousin party.

Back row: Justin, Mr. Grant, Aaron, Treven, Declen, Uncle Spencer, Jacob

Front row: Hunter, Kaden, Logan, Brinner, Kendall, Doyle

Kendall Moore being silly. When the boys first arrived they each got to make their own trail mix which we bagged up for them to snack on and then take home with them! They loved this idea!

Brinner saw me taking Kendall's picture and wanted one as well. Can't tell these two are brothers or anything!

Hunter really wanted Uncle Spencer and Cousin Scott to be there for his party. They were both kind enough to come.....thanks guys! Love you both! Hunter admires these two beyond words!

The boys played some games out in the backyard to begin with.

Uncle Chris is Hunter's "best uncle" as Hunter put it.

One day Hunter and I had this long conversation about how much he enjoys his Uncle Chris but he didn't want to hurt his other Uncles feelings because he loves them too. I told Hunter that he has been blessed with such amazing Uncles on both sides but that it is okay to call one "your best uncle." I told him that that title of "best Uncle" would probably change depending on who he was with.......when Chris is in town he holds that position but Hunter agreed that when Uncle Quincy takes him fishing then Uncle Quincy is his "best Uncle." And when Uncle Brian gives him rides on the big tractors at CKC then he is the "best uncle" and so on and so forth. He agreed.

It was sweet to listen to Hunter reasoning and how he didn't want any of his uncles to get their feelings hurt. I assured Hunter they knew exactly what he meant.

I just don't think we as extended family members know the impact we have on each other. I am learning and seeing more about this as my kids get older and express their love for their Aunts and Uncles. It makes me want to be the best Aunt I can and really show my nieces and nephews now much I love and care for them.

Hunter requested homemade green chili burros and bottled root beer for his party. It is actually fitting with our theme because when he go camping I always make a big batch of green chili and of course I get the bottle root beer cause Justin loves it. It's our camping tradition I guess! All his friends were in heaven and complemented me on the burritos. We also had nachos.........which is one of my favorite simple snacks. I am so weired I even like to get them at convenient stores every now and then.........crazy huh?

Declen is such a cute boy!

My Bestie Kari Stewart and her husband Jon also came to celebrate with us.

I love any chance I get to see Kari! Just love this girl!

After dinner it was on to the duck tape rockets.

The boys were thrilled to get to make their own duck tape rocket and find out that they actually were going to get to shoot them off outside.

Jon was so nice and was a huge help with the rockets.

We later found out that Jon LOVED the rockets and ever went out and bought some duck tape of his own......we plan to have them back for just adults rocket party!

Getting ready for BLAST OFF!

Everyone, including the adults were impressed with how far the rockets went!

It was crazy high!

Spencer's hot pink rocket went the farthest and actually got stuck on our neighbors, the Smith's, roof.

The boys all loved chasing after the rockets once they had been shot off!

They got some serious height!

Mr. Grant wasn't quite sure about the loud noise the rockets made. But for some reason he enjoyed being closer to the excitement!

The duck tape rockets were a HUGE success!

Cake Baby! The boys were so excited for the cake!

Scott was a big help during the party and Hunter was extremely happy that he came! I think Mr. Grant was happy as well!

After the rockets the boys played some more camping games in the backyard.

Justin and I were the "Camp Counselors" in our khakis and polo shirts.

I love this guy!

He is always so willing to go along with my crazy birthday party ideas. He says he loves seeing how excited I get over our kids parties. All I know is that some day my kids will want money instead of a party so I am going to enjoy it while I can!

The Pryor Family came as well to enjoy the party............on wait that looks like my Mr. Grant. They said they wanted to borrow him for a family picture.

We love the Pryor's!

We are so blessed to have become great friends with them! They are just the best!

Mac and her love for Carmel bugles show in this picture.

Not even kidding she pretty much ate whats left of the bugles in this bowl.

I love her to piece!

I called her the Bugle Bandit for weeks after this picture was taken!

Then it was time for a camp fire story. What camping party would be complete with out one.........and we had a special guest appearance by Pirate Peg legged Pete.

The boys were all blindfolded with camouflage bandannas.

Justin did an amazing job as Pirate Pete!!!

The wooden end of the shovel was his wooden peg leg.....which he kept banging against the patio as he told his story.

Hunter, Kendall and Kaden huddled together..........I think they were half playing and half seriously scared during the story. Jacob, second from the right I think was terrified...........I had to tell him there was nothing to be scared of several times.

They also got to feel Pirate Pete's hook, where he lost him hand in battle. Then feel his eyeball, a large green pickled olive, as Pirate Pete told how he lost his eye. A bird pooped in his eye and he used his hook hand instead of his good hand to scratch him eye...........so he scratched his own eye out. They boys though that was so funny! Hunter said as he was feeling "the eye"......"it's not an eye it's just an egg!"

I said, "well then smell your hands and tell me if it smells like an egg!"

All the boys did it and since pickled green olives have a strong smell they really got freaked out!

It was so funny!

Justin did such a great job with the character and his pirate accent............it was amazing! Mac and JP were dying laughing! Mac has requested Pirate Pete for her birthday!

After his friends had went home Hunter came up to Justin and asked him, "Dad, was that really you as Pirate Pete or not?"

Hunter wasn't quite sure...........that just made Justin's night! Hunter loved the camp fire story the best.

The whole party was great and so much fun! Several moms the following week told me that their boys can't stop talking about Hunter's party!