Water-bug

Max and Riley

We are in Ames for the Memorial Day weekend and it has been super warm. So of course we had to get out the water-bug! I had a water-bug when I was a kid and loved it. Max and Riley love it too. 

Maxwell

#50 things

Jumping

Riley

Maya's 4th Birthday

Saturday was Maya's 4th birthday and she had a super cool star wars themed party. The weather was great and the kids had a great time playing in the backyard. Maya wore a princess Leia costume(until it got too hot).

Maya and Max

Light Saber Fighting

Clare made these awesome noodle light sabers and the kids had fun play fighting with them.

Party

Riley and Rowan

Backyard

Little ones

 Maya's birthday cake had all her favorite "guys" on it and even Chewie held two of the candles. It was yummy too.

Birthday Cake

Opening gifts

Star Wars Stitching

This weekend we are celebrating my niece Maya's 4th birthday. She loves Star Wars so of course it's a star wars party. I saw this super cute applique on Pinterest and I just had to make it for her.

I so wish I could take credit for this awesome cuteness but I can't. I found the original on Feeling Stitchy. Here is a picture of the real one:

Image Credit

Pretty close, huh? Not bad considering I don't really know how to embroider or anything... A very busy weekend ahead and happy Memorial Day to everyone. I hope you enjoy the holiday how ever you choose to celebrate and remember.

New Camera

So my amazingly cool father GAVE me a Canon Rebel XTi camera! I can't believe it! This is my first "real" camera. And what I mean by that is I have more to choose from than indoor, outdoor, and auto shoot.

Now I am reading all kinds of camera tips on line, and I'm seeing all these cute accessories you can get for your camera.  I found some cute camera straps on Going Home to Roost:

Image credit

And a cute DIY camera strap on DesignLoveFest:

Image Credit

And the cute camera bags they have now at JoTotes (Yes that is a camera bag!)

Image Credit

My dad also gave me a super nice camera bag and the strap that came with the camera is very nice, but it's always good to accessorize, right? Now I just need to learn how to shoot amazing photos.

Camping at Pine Lake Iowa

Sleep in a Tent - 50things

We went camping Saturday into Sunday morning at Pine Lake, Iowa. It was a big trip for the boys as this was the first time they ever slept outside in a tent all night. It was also the first time we ever took the boys camping. I was surprised that it went as well as it did. Mostly due to the fact that the campsites next to us were empty, so there wasn't quite as much yelling at the kids as there could have been!

Pine Lake Campgrounds

The campsites at Pine Lake are modern, in other words - showers and flushing toilets! They have a many RV hookups as well as tent spots. (We soooo need an RV!)

Our campsite #124

Our friends Nick and Jenny and their two boys joined us camping. It was nice having extra adults to help with the boy herding.

Root Beer Break

Getting settled

The lake was beautiful and the weather was perfect. The older boys and dads went down fishing, but with little noisy boys it's hard to catch anything. It didn't help that Max fell into the lake - twice.

Upper Pine Lake

Dock

Of course we got to roast marshmallows and make S'mores, which was on our list this year. Riley did a pretty good job of keeping the marshmallow out of the fire and ash.

Making S'mores - 50things

Riley and Max

Roasting Marshmallows

When night came, we kept the fire going and Jered added some fun colors to flames. It was super cool, blue and green lights, too bad it doesn't show up in the photo.

In the morning we cooked a big breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and eggs (and lots of coffee for the adults) before we headed home.

Morning Sunshine

 With two of our 50things are done and we are off to a great start this summer!

Finally Friday

Happy Friday everyone! I never thought it would get here. We are packing to go camping at Pine Lake this Saturday. It's quite nostalgic for me as I went many summer camps there. Our family will be staying in a tent at the State campground this time and not at the cabins.

Pine Lake Iowa

Jered and I have been busy getting everything ready to go and the Jeep is full. This will be the first time we have ever taken the boys camping. We are only staying for one night but you would think it was for a week! I am hoping to get good pictures of the boys and do some of our 50 things as this is our first summer family activity.

I hope everyone has a good weekend. Wish us luck with taking the children outdoors, I hope they love it.