CAMPING

We went on our first family camping trip a couple of weekends ago.  "Camping" may need to be in parenthesis as we stayed in a cabin with a little kitchen, bathroom and air conditioning - but it was a "rustic" cabin.

We went to Tyler Creek Campground, about 20 minutes from our apartment :).  We thought it would be a safe first adventure.  It went well and the boys both loved the camping experience.   Thankfully we had perfect weather all weekend.

They were happy just to putz around the camping area - playing with their diggers in the sand and dirt.  They rode their bikes and scooters, played paddle ball, and football, etc.  There was a playground at the campground as well.

The cabin:






Brodie loved playing with the marshmallow roasters in the firepit;


We were happy to finally be able to grill this summer:

We had some friends come visit on Friday night and Alex and Jordan played great together.  They conquered the playground and goofed off at the campsite.

 We went fishing in the fish pond on Saturday morning.  It was great because you pretty much got a bite every time you cast.  The boys caught bluegill, catfish and a bass.

 

We went for short swim in the pool on Saturday afternoon.  It was crowded and cold.   Eric and Alex headed to the driving range at the golf course that was attached to the campground. 

On Saturday afternoon/evening, Eric's mom and sister's family came to hang out for dinner and smores:

Overall it was a great first camping experience.  The boys had a lot of fun.  In the future the one factor we would like to change would be to camp where there is a little lake/beach to play at during the day.

ALEX is 5!!!

Five just sounds old...like the little boy years are done and now he is a big boy.  Alex was so excited for his birthday.  He came in our bed on Monday morning and said, "so I'm five right now, like I am already five?  Do I have to wait til after nap or am I just five already?".

We had a little early birthday celebration on Saturday night with my parents.  Alex opened his presents and we went out to FireRock Grille.  We sat outside for dinner and there was live music, which the boys loved!

Alex opened his present from us first thing on Monday morning - a new bow and arrow.







Alex picked an outing to Craig's Cruisers to celebrate his birthday.  His cousins came along too which made it so much more fun!  They played several games in the arcade and then they played laser tag and rode go karts.  Alex was not big enough to drive alone on the fast go kart track, so he rode in a double cart with me.

 Then we had pizza, presents and cake and ice cream at his cousins house.  He picked a camouflage/soldier theme this year.  

I asked Alex the annual birthday interview questions.  Here are his answers as a 5 year old:

What is your favorite color? BLUE
Who is your best friend?  JACK (little boy who lives next door at the apartment)

What is your favorite show to watch on tv?  JAKE THE PIRATE
What is your favorite thing to eat?   CAKE and CUPCAKES and ICE CREAM
What is your favorite thing to drink?   ORANGE POP
What is your favorite thing to wear?   CAMO
What is your favorite toy?  BATMAN LEGO
What is your favorite book?  BATMAN  (just got from library)
What is your favorite song?   BIG GREEN TRACTOR
What is something you like to say?   I WANT TO GO HUNTING
What is something you like to do with Brodie?   CUDDLE WITH TAGGIES AND BRODIE'S TEDDY AND PACIE
Where do you like to play? CATCH AIR (Indoor play place)
Who loves you?   MOMMA
What is your favorite thing to do outside?   GO HUNTING
What do you want to be when you grow up?  A SUBMARINE SOLDIER

Five Year Old Stats:
Weight - 42.4lbs (60%)
Height - 45 inches (87%)

On Tuesday we spent the day at a cottage in Whitehall that my childhood friend's family was renting.  Alex and her son got along so well and they played together all day while we got to chat and catch up.  It was sadly quite a chilly day, so not a lot of swimming and water sports took place, but was a great day nevertheless.  

As a side note, Alex completed swimming lessons last week.  His teacher is known as the "swim nazi" in the area.  Alex actually had her son and daughter most of the time. He did great and made some improvements in his swimming - it is just a matter of repetition and having the strokes become more automatic. 

Holiday Week/Weekend

We had a great long holiday week/weekend.

The fun started on Wednesday night.  We took the boys to their first baseball game - the Whitecaps.   They really enjoyed it.  There was so much going on so it kept them entertained.  We also did some walking around - Alex pitched some balls to see how fast he could throw, they played on the playground and we got ice cream.




The fun continued on Thursday with a trip to Boulder Creek Animal Reserve with cousins.
Alex is the bird whisperer and loves to have all the birds land on him....no picture of Brodie b/c he was clinging to me...

Cousins!

Safari ride bus seat buddies....


We spent the 4th of July out in Grand Haven at my parents.  The weather could not have been any more perfect - blue skies, sun and a slight breeze.  The kids played outside and then we spent the afternoon at the beach.  The boys LOVE the beach.  It is the one place on this earth that Alex will entertain himself for hours.  We grilled out for dinner.




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We started Saturday morning with our first family golf outing.  We went to a local course that has 3 practice holes.  We putted on the practice green, practiced chipping and then played the three holes for awhile.

Ready for some golf:


Putting Green:






Chipping:  Alex loves to chip it out of the dirt.


Teeing off on hole #1:  (Had to keep Brodie from hitting the big fake balls that mark the tee box)

Where Brodie could be found the rest of the time:

I mostly supervised but got in on the action for some putting contests with Alex.  He loves to pick different spots on the green and see who can make it in the hole with the fewest putts. 

After short naps we headed out to some friends for a pool party.  Alex loved their 10 year old son.  Alex idolized him and followed him around all night - they played soccer, rode scooters, he showed Alex how to shoot his airsoft gun, and they let off some fireworks.  Alex loved "the snake" firework. Brodie swam and swam and swam and just loved paddling around in the pool - sometimes all by himself.   A great afternoon of swimming and playing.  

Cooking his first smore...

Eating his first smore.....

End of the night coma - combination exhaustion and smores....