Yep it's official... they won't stop growing! Mr. Colten turned SIX, yeah you read that right 6 last weekend. Goodness wasn't he just potty training yesterday? Wasn't he needing to be held everywhere and at all times? What happened to my little cling on?
Well somewhere in the last 6 years a sweet little baby grew into a young man.
A young man full of amazing thoughts, wisdom beyond his years (*on select topics)
A quick thinking sports announcer (a new found talent! it's hilarious!)
A complete dare devil on his bike (we're currently working on riding with NO hands!)
A little jokester
A LEGO-fanatic extraordinaire... you need an amphibious helicopter monster truck...he's your guy!
A chicken lover like you've never seen... Have you hugged your chicken today? Colten has!
As Colten's little brother enters the "Terrific" Threes I see now that we had it pretty easy with Colten. Thank you Colten for a memory filled 6 years, thank you for still moochin your Mama in public, still reaching to hold you Mamas hand and most of all loving your Mama unconditionally each and everyday. Blessed more than I deserve, I tell you what!
It's been our new birthday tradition to make a fun family memory on birthdays instead of a big party, last year Colten chose to have lunch at the Space Needle... This year he chose something a bit more our style... Camping and a steam train ride, he also wanted to go bowling, to the mall, the zoo and the Space Needle again... we went with Camping and train ride!
We finally decided on Schafer State Park... an hour and half from home and about 45 minutes from the Chehalis Steam Train. PERFECT!
An early birthday present...
Ya gotta break in your new hikers before you hike you know!
That's a happy hiker... hope you're wearing more than socks little hiker!
Makin her second voyage of the season...
Let's GO!
That's right.... SCHOOLS OUT 4 SUMMER!
On the fly... minutes before we left Mama was franticly printing out road trip games...thankfully they were a huge hit until both boys were passed out about 25 minutes into the drive... I call that a huge success!
First one out...
Mama's stylin!
Settin up camp!
The boys checkin out the river... just a little trail walk from our camp
Camp
Lunch... Ben was telling us something very important
Some of those bike skills I was talkin about...
Bikin while campin... It's just something you do
Yep love these moments...
Zoomin!
Off Roadin
Yee Hawww
"Mom, did you get that?"
Musta done something naughty, I missed it...
This is good though... be naughty for Dad so he can see what I'm dealin with all week long! :)
Huckleberries!
Mama's favorite flower on the planet!
Some more pretties
Wait for me guys!
The Schafers... of Schafer State Park...
Brrr!
Brought a boat to float!
Yep think it's time for a new life vest
Think we'll call this the wedgie vest!
You can never be TOO safe I guess!
Ughh will someone please tell me how to make them stop growing...
this is happening toooo fast!
Tryin to catch baby trout
Caught one!
Mama being the Sioux Native, had to give it a try and show
the Danish boy (Jeromy) how it's done!
Very sophisticated method with advanced precision tools...
Yeah a total natural... what can I say!
Tonkas... never camp without 'em!
Noodlin
(that's what it's called right?)
We were enjoying some word searches... just me and my little 5 year old who would be six in just one sleep...
Ok cute shot Pop, but where's the other child?
No really where is he?
Oh there he is!
A very strange bug on my pants, don't worry Ben protected me and swiftly removed the horrible creature and sent it to it's death in the fire... (RIP weird wormy guy)
Train time!!!
The most beautiful birthday weather!
Munchin on Trail Mix
Enjoyin the ride!
The outside car was pretty full, but we found a good standing spot in the back!
Moo
Couldn't ask for a better day to ride a train
(well except for it being a horrible day to have seasonal allergies!!!)
We reached the end of our ride and stopped and the Engine was disconnected and switched to a different track to head back down the line and hook up at the rear of the train to take us back.
The train now towing us back...
This is the view from the last car on the train...
SOOO LOUD... WHAT DID YOU SAY?
Our conductor told us this was Crocodile Pond!
I think I saw one... but Colten doesn't believe me...
I love these shots...
Adorable... It's a framer... Father's Day????
Train rides make me sleepy...
Boys and trains...
I honestly think Jeromy and I enjoyed the train more than the boys...
I want to go ride again!
Colten met some girls a few campsites down and they were off in a flash to ride their bikes around the campground loop
(Colten found a birthday twin..a little Lilly was celebrating her 7th birthday)
So what's a Mama to do with the sad little brother that got left behind?
Pull out the bubbles of course...
Look at those crazy ninja bubble slaying moves...
He's totally my kid!
I learned real quick though that having something exciting going on in your campsite leaves you wide open to uninvited children all supped up on the caffeine, (do people really let their 5 year olds drink Brisk Iced Tea) totally taking over your "bubble" inviting themselves into your trailer, putting their mouth on your bubble blowers and well making you feel like you have little to worry about when it comes to your kids! Good Grief!
Ok no more bubbles....
Love that I have the sweetest little birthday banner that comes out for each special celebration! Thanks to my good friend The Barefoot Seamstress for
making this little gem!
Nothin says campin like a finger full of splinters...
Birthday dinner.... Cast Iron Nachos!
Say What.... I love those!
The boys playin with the caffeine kid... better keep an eye on them
“If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” – Van Gogh
A man and his truck...
I look discussed... but the camera lies... they were SOOO good! haha
Look at me spillin nacho bits... Party Foul!
It wasn't me..
Really I didn't do it...
(Looks guilty don't he)
Stokin the fire... for Birthday Banana Boats
Or as Ben calls them "Bana" Boats
Stuffed full of trail mix, gluten free oreos and coconut bon bons.... yep that's a belly ache if I ever saw one!
Present time...
What is it... what is it?
Oh sweet a REAL hiking pack...
Gosh I don't even have one of those...
Forget that new sleepin bag.........AHHHH LEGOS!
Ben's sayin AHHHHH LEGOS!
What a Birthday!!!
This was one of the best things about this camping trip... our new AeroPress Coffee/Espresso maker! Thought we'd be using it for camping only but it has quickly become our one and only! LOVE the smooth less acidic cup of Joe it makes! And love that we don't have to sacrifice a good cup of java just because we're camping!
A fabulous trip down in the books! I don't know what my favorite part was... riding the train, playin in the river, taking our bikes on a foot traffic only hiking trail (this was not FUN!!! Jeromys still in trouble for this one!) watching my "6" year old leave camp to go hang out with other campin kids, the 6 year old checking in every once in a while to calm his anxious Moms heart, reading from our road trip journal around the camp fire... trips from "the beginning" a young little couple out for adventure hopping in their truck and heading east without a destination and limited funds... it's a good read!
So camping ain't so bad, it's different, but not bad. Our last night we were even blessed with some quiet time after the kids went to bed... a few moments of sweet reminiscing and talk of what the future may bring while roasting our toes by the fire.
The last thing I remember saying was... "Would it be weird if I told you I really miss our chickens?"
What a wonderfully stupendous weekend we all had... Do we really have to go home?
Yes, but only to pack up the chickens and bring them with us!
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