Camping for Labor Day

For Labor Day this year Eric and I wanted to take the kids camping. After some debate and seeing what was available we were able to get a spot up at Lincoln State Park. 

Since we were a little late on looking for a spot we were able just to get a primitive camping spot, which turned out to be a nice little spot. The boys were excited to get out and play and ride their bikes around the loop. 

We had planned and prepared food so meals were pretty simple and Eric was good at making fires so we were able to have some nice meals. Livvy was pretty happy outdoors and enjoyed sitting and playing in her chair.  

We were able to go to the beach while we were there and the kids enjoyed playing in the sand and water. We also had an hour out on the paddle boat, which Sup seem to enjoy a little more then Thomas.   For dinners one night we had the traditional pizza pies and S'mores. Really a must have for a camping trip, at least in my book. 

Also Sup and Thomas had to have some hot dogs roasted by the fire as well. It was fun to see all the kids gathered around enjoying a meal around the fire. It was a fun couple of days. 

Just gotta have donuts

Phillip can be pretty insistent when he really wants something. He got has gotten use to when someone comes to visit the morning they leave we typically get donuts as a treat before they leave. Sup had been telling Papa all week that they should get donuts when he left Friday morning. He would gently remind him just many times throughout the last couple of days that Papa was here. 

Sometimes they were pretty direct comments and sometimes they were a little less annoying. So I made sure that I got up a little earlier that morning to go and get donuts before Papa left that morning. Everyone was happy for the treat and it was a nice way to send Papa off that morning :)

Yummy breakfast

Since Eric hadn't had a chance to really go out for a treat Papa was kind enough to take Eric out for a breakfast one morning. 

Livvy was pretty excited to try part of Daddy's muffin which was a pretty big hit with her :) This was the last day that Papa was here to visit so it was nice to be able to do something before he left the next morning. 

Let's putt putt

One of the things the boys really wanted to do with Papa while he was here was take them putt putting. So after they came home from school we headed over to play a round together. 

 I had originally picked this place because they had both an indoor and outdoor course, and with it being so hot I thought we would be able to play inside where there was air conditioning. 

 But for some strange reason both of the boys wanted to play outdoors, so the rest of us put up with the heat and we made sure Livvy stayed in the shade. The one benefit was we were the only ones dumb enough to be outside so we pretty much had the course to ourselves. 

After the boys got their putters and ball we were off to play. The boys decided to have their own team creatively called "the boy team" and had a lot of fun playing. 

We had to rush a little at the end so Eric could make it to work on time but all in all despite the heat we had fun spending time together :)

Indian with Papa

Since my family is sometimes not the most adventurous with food one of the things I really like to have is a Indian food. Since Papa had been in Germany he hasn't really had it that often as well so we were both pretty excited to go lunch for something a little different :) 

Since we would be the only ones really enjoying the experience we thought lunch would be best. This way the boys were at school and Eric would be sleeping. Livvy of course tagged along but she didn't have much of an opinion at this point ;) Although I have high hopes that she will be a little more diverse in her tastes! I can say at this point she eats a lot more then either boy did. 

The food was really great! We both really enjoyed our lunch with good food and good company! 

Taking Papa to soccer

During the week that Papa was here the boys both had soccer practice. So a couple of our evenings we were out on the soccer fields. 

This was Sup's first year for soccer so Thomas was a little lost on what he was suppose do to when he was not practicing, so it was nice for me to have Papa there to entertain him ;)

It was pretty hot and humid both times we were at the fields but as long as they had water it didn't seem to bother the kids as much as Papa and myself. Papa was a good sport and still was able to play a little soccer with the boys after practice was over. 

Sup has had a couple of seasons of having Thomas play so he was easily entertained and was use to how things worked. While we were in Cincinnati earlier in the summer, Sup really got into collecting bottle caps with Papa. So Papa went around with Sup to help find some around the fields. Papa came prepared knowing there may not be that many around so Sup was able to find some :)

Even with the hot weather I think both the boys enjoyed Papa coming to watch them and Papa had fun playing with them as well :)

Lunch with the boys

It nice at the school you are welcome to come and eat lunch with your child any time. I thought it would be a fun activity to take Papa to while he was here. Sup was pretty happy to show Papa where his school was and eat lunch with him. 

Both Papa and myself realized how fast paced lunch was! But we were all able to at least finish our lunch and visit a little bit during the school day :)

The next day we were able to eat lunch with Thomas. It worked out well because after going with Sup we were at least familiar with how lunch worked. So we were able to get our lunch and when Thomas came in we didn't have to wait in the line. This way we were able to eat and visit a little better. There was a little conflict with a chicken leg and the shock that a little boy threw away a whole carton of chocolate milk. This took Papa a little bit to digest, but other then that we had a nice lunch with Thomas as well ;) 

Chopping wood

While Papa was here we decided to put him to work for a little bit ;) Since Papa came right before the Labor Day holiday, we had plans to go camping and planned on taking some of our own wood to burn. 

Since it was a nice day after the boys got home Papa and Eric took the boys out to help chop. All in all they were excited at the aspect of chopping the wood…..We will see how long this excitement is to help ;)

I think Papa got the tougher job he got both the ax and Sup. Luckily the wood was pretty dried out so it was not too bad to chop. 

Peeps!

For a treat we wanted to surprise Papa with a fun cake. I had seen this Peeps cake mold back around Easter time and I thought this would be a fun occasion to use it. 

In the past Papa has made some pretty amazing Peep creations himself so we thought it would be fun to make him one big chocolate cake Peep :)

We had to replace the "eyes" a couple of time because Papa and Sup ate the chocolate chips before they made it to the cake. But all in all it turned out to be a fun treat :)

Out with Papa

For lunch Papa treated us to lunch. One of Papa's favorite places to go is the Chinese buffet, this had also become a favorite of Thomas's so we were all excited to go :) 

 Eric was not feeling well so he wasn't able to join us but Livvy was able to enjoy her first experience. She couldn't have a whole lot but she enjoyed the rice, which she ate some and wore some. 

 Somehow Papa is always able to get these boys to try all the different things at the Chinese buffet, which is rather impressive! 

Thomas always enjoys grill, he just gets a plate of steak and has them cook it. He always eats it up and this time Sup had a plate of chicken, which went over well with him as well :) 

 

At last there were ice cream cones, Papa made them some pretty good looking cones!

Paper mache

Papa Mark had a chance to come and visit us for a few days so he was able to join us for a few family activities. 

 Even though it was the end of August Eric and had had some different plans for our Christmas village this year. We wanted it to have its own space and able to decorate it better. One of the things we wanted was a snow hill for the snow lodge. 

 Eric had already made the basic shape but we needed to paper mache it so it looked liked a hill that we could put the people and tree on it. Since Papa was here he joined us and helped us put on the first layer. 

Amazingly Sup didn't really like it. Didn't like the getting his hands wet so he took on the job of entertaining Livvy. Which seemed to be a good job for him as well and kept Livvy happy :)