Backyard Campout

The weather has been so amazing! So when our friends, Denise & James, asked us to watch Kate for the evening, we decided to make a "camp out" evening of it!

The evening started, as many evening with children do... with pizza!! We ordered in via Pagliacci's. The kids enjoyed the pizza out on the deck as it was plenty warm and the sun was setting.

After dinner, the kids went out to play in the tent that we set up in the backyard. We filled it with sleeping bags, pillows & blankets. Phil and I have had this tent since our dating days. It is an old REI tent that I bought from a friend, and it is just my favorite! It was perfect for when we would go camping together - the 2 of us. We used to go out to the peninsula with our mountain bikes, and camp, ride and explore. We still have the tent, and can how share it with our kids so many years later. I am almost sad at the need for a huge, family sized tent. Maybe we will get the kids their own tent, and Phil and I can keep this one...

Playtime turned into craft time as we pulled out the finger paint, markers & such.

As the kids entertained themselves on the deck, I started to set up for some s'more roasting out by the tent. We have a little mobile fire pit that we use in the yard. We like to be able to put it away when the kids (& their friends) are out in the yard.

We had our marshmallows, chocolate (with & without almonds), and our graham crackers! We were set. Phil got the fire started while the kids patiently waited for ideal roasting conditions.

The girls went through 2-3 marshmallows each, catching them on fire, and asking to "start over". Mommy likes the marshmallows crispy, so that wasn't a problem. It took them a while to figure out to keep it moving, browning and turning. But once they got it, the payoff was worth the wait!!

Here is our playhouse, still waiting to be finished. The kids still enjoy it as is, but Mommy likes details and is excited to have something to paint and set up for them! (*hint*hint*)

After Keith went to bed, the girls wanted to go back out in the tent. So we put a layer on them, fun slippers, and handed each of them a flashlight! Off they went...

Kate eventually went home for the night. But Chloe, still hung up on the tent, talked her Daddy into going out and sleeping with her for the night. They had a blast! Phil said she slept just great. In the morning, she clearly couldn't see her flashlight working in the tent because the sun was out. So he said she climbed into his sleeping bag, head first, while he was still in it, and played with her flashlight in the dark of Daddy's sleeping bag! I thought that was hilarious!!