First Camping Trip

Owen has been asking to go camping and as Omer has never been and I have not in a very long time and not my favorite things to do, I must we were not that excited. But we are such amazing parents and when we saw the weekend was supposed to be pretty cool we got camping gear from a friend and headed out. 

We decided to just go to Lake Fairfax just in case it went poorly and we had to bail, we could get home quick. Well happy to say it went great. Not quite what I had planned but the boys loved it. I had planned for us to go canoeing but because of lack of staff the dock was closed. Then I had planned on going on a long hike and explore, as I have never really hiked back there. Me and the boys did manage to go on a small one and gather fire wood. The boys loved gathering!!!

Otherwise they just wanted to play around the campsite area. Lots of dirt digging and stick swords. We did not know they would have grills there so we opted for a yuppy dinner and picked up Subway. The dogs joined us as well and totally did great. Callie looked like she was in her element; makes me curious of her past. 

So we played, built fire (a huge hit with the boys), and made smores. Once it got dark we put them to bed and went pretty smooth. Owen slept great and Aiden did except for startling quickly two times. Omer and I snuck some beer on the campsite, so after they were in bed we sat and enjoyed some quiet outside in the woods with some beer. 

I had thought when we got up we would go explore but Aiden was done. He seriously got up and walked to the car and said he would wait there until we packed. He made it about 10 minutes and then decided to join us for breakfast. We did leave by 8:00 and were home at 8:15. Short but successful camping trip. We will certainly go again and plan to go somewhere different. 

Owen loved the tent

 Aiden found a "tool" of some kind and enjoyed digging and pretending to chop 

 The boys played trucks in dirt

On our walk to gather fire wood

 Aiden drove trucks

 Owen was excited we had our own bridge, it is the little things

Are you surprised a stick became a gun?

 Being innocent 

AND THE THERE WAS FIRE!

The pups arrived and Callie quickly laid in the tent

Daddy roasting marshmallows

Camping Callie and Chester

Owen's Fire Dance

Aiden "attacking" the fire

Ready to sleep in the tent

Bearded Dragon Class

A couple weeks ago Owen mentioned in a lot of detail how he wants to hold a class about bearded dragon's. I thought this was awesome but figured he would drop it. I should know better, of course he asked is I had sent out the invitations. So I went forth and he held two classes. He had two students for the first and four for the second. 

He was really cute but of course a little nervous. He taught (I of course helped feed him what to tell next by questions), then allowed everyone to touch Beardy, did a craft, had snack and then free play. I really love that he wants to teach others and learn himself. 

First portion of his first class

After he talk about bearded dragon's he also wanted to show his science museum items off, which includes some of Beardy's skin he has shed.

Teaching about the horseshoe crab shell

 He was so cute and took his role seriously and passed everything around

Then Beardy came out

Nose to Nose 

Emeleigh held Beardy 

Beardy has gotten quite large

 Craft Time

Then he had his second class and we created a better craft. Aiden could not wait and made his beforehand. Then he showed it off to the class as the sample. He was proud of himself.

Second class, Owen did start the same way by showing a picture of a Bearded dragon puffed up like a frilled lizard.

He passed around the skin and showed the difference between a lizard and snake.

Skel Skel had to join in class and is actually holding the skin too

 Now the Beardy portion

Craft Time

A lot of Time at Home

My boys in the past week have really enjoyed just wanting to be home. It has been a little cool for the pool and with an injured Owen (pinched nerve in neck), I am not kidding when I say we have been home A LOT. I love being at home but man I need to get out some. But these do not seem to care; it is hard for me to convince them even to go for a walk. I guess they are really enjoying being with each other with a sprinkle of friends. And am happy to admit for them being together so much they really have been playing nice with of course some disagreements here and there.

While Owen was at nature camp I had Aiden's buddy Sadie over for a play date. They had a great time! Started with measuring out snakes

Oops where did the snake go?

Then they collected all the frogs

We have a lot of frogs!

Then the REAL fun began. I read them Monster Town and for each page I said they had to act out the monster. They really enjoyed this and went from bean bag to my room back to bean bag acting like the monster and of course with lots of happy squels. 

Monster Faces

Little Werewolves

Smiles & Giggles

While at the pool Mrs Loren found this grasshopper in the drain looking quite dead. Well its started to move and the Owen's, Aiden and Sadie worked hard at building it a house and helping it back to life. Owen took him home to put him in the butterfly net to nurse it back to help. Oh I forgot to mention that he is missing a leg.

While we were building his home when we saw an injured katydid. Owen added him to the new house. 

Dr. Owen watching his patients

The next day the grasshopper was jumping all around and climbing the net, so we set him free

He flew right out on to the top

Then he jumped into the grass, Owen was so excited to see a healthy grasshopper

We love reading Froggy Goes to Hawaii and one part is a Hula dance, Aiden loves it and stands up and does a little hula. It is adorable. 

Here is a video, albeit not a very good one. Too late in the game 

Of course we are still building lots of Bionicles. Aiden built lots from the instructions and Owen decided he wants to work for Lego and create some that people will want to buy. Here is Fire Ears who is riding on a space ship (under him)

Spike Claw

Bat Wings

The boys both have asked to grow their hair out. I love it, they have gorgeous blond locks. This morning Aiden woke up with the most adorable curl in the back.

Skel Skel needed to get dressed and see the doctor

Then it was Halloween dress up

Then Johnny came over and they had an awesome time playing in the pirate ship Omer built (yes we still need to paint it)

Today Aiden told me he was tired so I put him in his room for quiet time. I figured Owen would also enjoy some alone with me. Well I was wrong. He asked to do quiet time with Aiden. Sure I guess. So Aiden scooted closer to Owen, they sat in their chairs and listened to a book on CD. Hmmm 45 minutes of quiet for Mommy!!!

There is Fall in the air with cooler weather, so the boys enjoyed some play out front. Drew some chalk of course and then they started to play monster trucks in the dirt.

Then back to build a Bionicle battle

We tended to the garden. Talk about a humongous zucchini

During bath Aiden dipped his head in and came up with a swirl on his forehead. I had to take a picture which meant the camera loving Aiden had to pose a little.