Last camp-out of 2006!

This picture is of my oldest son (facing the camera) and his youngest son and hubby (back to camera) setting up the tent for the last camp-out of the year. Never mind that it was their only camp-out this year due to out of town employment requirements for our son! The kids were excited! They were going to sleep in a tent! It would be our grandson's {Brian's youngest boy, Elijah (3)} first time sleeping in a tent. I'm not sure he actually was aware when they were setting the tent up that this would be his lodging for the night. Brian's older son, David and our granddaughter, Amber, were looking forward to staying in the tent all night. Both have camped before, so it wasn't a brand new experience for them, but still something to look forward to!

Amber and David disappeared into the house to play video games while hubby and Brian set up the tent. Elijah and Drew (who was here for the weekend) were getting acquainted playing outside and getting a feel for each other.

Elijah(dark hair) will be 3 on Sept. 8th and Drew will turn 2 on October 26th. This is probably the first time that they have really played together for any length of time. They weren't at the right ages for playing with one another during previous family gatherings.


The boys really seemed to enjoy the others company and really didn't fight at all. Of course there was a few times when they both were a little upset if I was holding the other one....do ya think they might have not wanted to share the Mema?

I, nor Brian, received a lot of sleep this night. The kids didn't want to settle down in the tent and it seems like everyone had a bladder that was way too small. David and Amber made several trips into the house to use the bathroom closest to the door, but being that I am a really light sleeper, and after deciding that I should sleep on the couch in the family room in case they needed me during the night the frequent trips kept me awake. When all three kids finally fell asleep and I was dozing off, I heard the door once again. It was Brian this time, needing to use the bathroom and he wasn't feeling well. It might have something to do with drinking a few beers and eating s'mores at the same time....I'm not sure, just wondering!! He was eventually able to go back to the tent and I thought I was surely in for some much needed sleep. Not quite! Elijah woke up and was freezing and wanted to come in the house. Bri brought him in and made a bed for him on the loveseat. He went back out to see if the other two wanted to come in the house with him and Elijah, but they opted to remain in the tent for the duration. That was about 4 AM, and I finally fell asleep ~ only to be awakened 2 hours later when David came in because he was freezing too. Brian sent him back to the tent to wake Amber and make her come in too. He didn't want to leave anyone alone in the tent. Retrieve her he did and then they were wide awake and making too much noise for me to be able to get any more sleep!

After a big breakfast of eggs, sausage, toast and pancakes, juice and coffee, we put a movie (Nemo) in the DVD player to entertain the little ones while I cleaned up the breakfast mess. I glanced in to see Brian sound asleep on the floor!

Brian and his boys left about 12:30 PM and Bumpa, Amber, Drew and I decided to just play outside until it was lunch time and then nap time for Drew. Boy, was I ever ready for bed Sunday night.

So, it is now Labor Day evening and I am trying to catch up on laundry after taking Amber back to her mom today and after Michelle and Glenn picked up Drew. Quiet at last.

Almost too quiet for my liking!