Camp out sleepover

 We celebrated Colin's birthday with his friends last night.  He had elaborate plans for his party but once you add all the kids in his class plus his other friends it got a little overwhelming and expensive so we talked him into have a camp out in our backyard with a few friends.  A little more manageable and probably a lot more fun too. 

 Joel and I made some signs while Colin was at school.  I had to really convince the boys when they were getting ready to sleep in the tent that our backyard didn't have bears or snakes.  The signs were just pretend. 

 

 

 The kids ate, did a scavenger hunt, ate some more :)

 Norah wanted to be in the middle of all the action... or just get to their cake and ice cream.

 We played this ring toss game where you have to get the bracelet over the root beer (which I had to really convince one boy it was root beer and not the beer his daddy drinks so he could have some) but they got to drink the root beer when they got the ring over it. 

 Mr. Tyler taught the kids how to shake up the bottle and then spray it everywhere..... you can see his son's excitement in the red shirt there.  It started a mad rush to drink what they had already opened so they could go get a new one and shake it up.  Joel poured his out behind the fort and then came and told me he had drunk all his and needed a new one. 

 We sent the boys home not only very tired but very sticky.  I'm sure the other parents love us right now. 

 They slept all night in the tent.  I was sure they would pass out early they were running around for hours. And then played flashlight tag for a long time when it got dark.  But they were up until after 11 and then at 6am I heard a screaming bunch of boys running around the backyard.  Brent and another father were asleep in the tent next to them.  All the younger siblings went home so it was just the older kids and Joel sleeping in the tent.

I think Colin had fun. There were lots of very excited happy boys running around last night. I have very grumpy kids today :) but it was worth it to see Colin beaming last night.  And fun to hear the conversations boys have.