Camping Birthday Party at Larrabee State Park

Friday was birthday party day. We celebrated a joint birthday party for the girls with an overnight camping birthday party at Larrabee State Park. Above is a picture of the Barbie cake. Yes, it's a little lopsided but I like to call that "homemade charm". The kids loved it so it didn't matter if she was a little tilted.

The campsite was great. We got the group site and there was so much room for all the kids to run around and play. They played t-ball, soccer, frisbee, various other made up games and did some pine cone crafts. I thought this would be fun but I had no idea how much fun the kids and adults would have. Everyone was having so much fun, you couldn't help but be happy watching it all.

Nice hit Madison! Unfortunately, the t-ball set didn't survive the overnight but it lasted for several hours of fun.

It was great for Madison to get to hang out with some friends she hasn't gotten to spend much time with in recent years due to moves and different schools. Despite not being with these kids much anymore there is still a very strong connection and trust and they can resume friendships instantly. It was really amazing.

Summer birthday parties are fairly small sometimes because so many people are busy and on vacation but I was stunned that nearly everybody who was invited came. There were 45 people there. It was great and the space was perfect for all the people, it didn't seem like that many at all. Also, some left early and some came late so there was a good amount of people there at all times but it didn't seem like too much at any time.

Hot dogs, watermelon, pasta salad, tortilla chips and salsa and potato chips were on the menu for dinner.

I couldn't help but snap a picture of this. There is something so wrong and yet, so right about a Corona in a baby stroller.

The cake with candles lit. Neither of my girls wanted to blow out the candles so I enlisted a little help from other willing participants.

The kids were so excited for cake that I could barely get in there to serve it up.

Barbie making her exit from her dress.

Yum, cake!

Friends and food.

The quietest moment all day.

Waiting patiently for their piece.

Baby Kate with her cupcake. Hmm, where did the Corona go?

The aftermath!

We started the campfire around 8:00 p.m. Most people had left by then and we were down to a really nice size to sit around the campfire and roast S'mores.

It was funny, the boys naturally all sat together on a wooden bench by the campfire....

and the girls all sat together in the chairs.

We were starting to run low on firewood and the next thing we know Lisa and a few helpers are hauling a big piece of wood from quite a ways away. It was hilarious to see these little kids hauling this big piece of wood.

The kids were so exhausted that night. Two other families plus my mother in law stayed for the overnight. We got rained on that night and woke to the sound of rain hitting the tent, one of my favorite sounds in the whole world. The group campsite had a covered area so we could congregate there and stay dry in the morning and it wasn't a downpour so it wasn't bad at all. We chatted and packed up our stuff, fed the kids breakfast and headed home. The girls couldn't stop talking about how much fun they had and how they want to do it again next year. I think this will be a yearly event.

Gifts got opened when we got home and the girls got some wonderful gifts.

A wonderful time spent with family and friends celebrating my two favorite people on this planet. What a great weekend!