Camping in the backyard

This weekend the kids broke in the new tent (in the backyard).  I've decided I love this kind of camping - the kind of camping where I can sleep in my own bed!  So, John and the kids slept out in the backyard and wrangled the neighbors into doing the same.  Everyone slept great (even me!).  Austin was VERY concerned about me sleeping all by myself inside (in my own bed), but I assured him that it would be okay.

John and Austin will be going on a boys camp out in a few weeks.  They are now set with the new tent, as well as a bow and arrow, and a fishing pole.  Ellie and I will probably go shopping while they are gone!

Here are some pictures of making s'mores in the neighbor's fire pit, the kids with the neighbor kids and our new tent.

I guess I'll be trying the new tent myself in the Fall at the annual camping trip to the farm.  I am so looking forward to it - haha.

Art Show

Ellie is fortunate to have an art teacher this year that is in her first year of teaching.  First year teachers really go all-out and Ellie has definitely enjoyed art this year.  There was an art show this past week and Ellie was proud to show us her art creations that were on display.  Among them:  a bird's nest complete with eggs, Rainbow Fish that apparently took many, many steps to create, an origami bird, a clay pot with "Mom" engraved in it, and a jump rope girl that was part of a much larger mural on the wall.  I should have taken a picture of the large mural (there were actually three of them) that Ellie's very small jump rope girl was a part of, but it didn't dawn on me until much, much later.  Oops.

John's First Half Marathon

John did awesome at his first half marathon.  The weather was perfect, too!  Having so much rain lately, we were so lucky to have perfect temps and sunshine this morning.

John finished strong.  His time was around 1:50 - which I think is just amazing for a first half marathon.

We celebrated with HUGE cheeseburgers and red velvet cake.