Camping at home

The boys have been itching to get out and camp.  Unfortunately, our schedules seem to be getting in the way of this happening before Memorial Day weekend.  On Saturday, Aaron and the boys hosed down "HaRVey" the camper and popped it up in the backyard to get it ready for the season.  The boys were thrilled when we told them they could sleep out there and this seemed to satisfy part of their "itch"!  However, they told us it wouldn't really be liked camping unless the neighbors came over, and we got the firepit going.

I didn't realize how much entertainment could actually come from this simple request from the boys. Apparently there is "man" work to be done if you are properly using the firepit. If you are a guy, you must show your "manliness" by actually "chopping" the wood with a wedge and a sledgehammer!  Check out the expression on neighbor Q's face!  This is serious business.

Then, with any unique pieces of wood - say for example the tree trunk and part of the roots they had pulled out a couple of weeks ago - you turn yourselves into sculptures. You can't tell really well from this picture, but the huge spread out branch behind Austin is not actually a tree - it's a part of one stuck down the back of his shirt.

It turned out to be quite a funny evening with lots of laughs.  Carter and Austin were full of the "funnies". However, they are quite cranky tonight because they were up WAY TOO LATE last night.  I really feel sorry for their teachers tomorrow!