Camp McAnally

Y'all - yesterday's link-up was so much fun!!! I loved seeing all the ADORABLE rooms and getting a little peek into y'alls homes.

Several people here and on IG asked about the paint colors in my kids rooms and it's the same color in both rooms - and I promise I'll find the can and let y'all know what it is.  Pinky promise. :)

Now, on with today's post!!!

The boys have been talking about "summer camp" for weeks.  They're enthralled with all things camp.  They're obviously too young for overnight camp, so I decided to surprise them with a day of "Camp McAnally" :)

They woke up Saturday morning and, like always, came to hang out in our bed.  I told them that we had a surprise for them in the family room and they were PUMPED to find new sleeping bags set out with their tent and camp chairs.  Griffin spent a solid 15 minutes peeking in and out of the tent :)

I set a really simple little table for them... our regular chalkboard platter, a small jar with flowers, a cast iron skillet and a "bug box" that they made at Home Depot last weekend.  The vinyl tablecloth was a $4 WalMart find that I just folded in half.

I hung their backpacks on their chairs and we were ready for biscuits!!!

Any excuse for biscuits and gravy, right?!?!?! :)

After breakfast we went on a "nature walk" in our neighborhood.  They each had a scavenger hunt on a clipboard and they carried crayons and crossed things off as we found them.

It was HOT Saturday morning and so we came home (red-faced!) and watched a Paw Patrol in sleeping bags :)

After some rest time we packed up our happy campers and headed to the pool.

Lunch time!

Sister was already pretty sleepy - no morning nap and fun in the sun will do that do a girl :)

We pretty much had the whole pool to ourselves and we had the best time!  Luke jumped off the diving board without his puddle jumper for the first time ever and was SO SO SO proud of himself.  His swimming has come so far this summer!

 It always cracks me up when I see all the "stuff" for three little kids at the pool :)

After swimming the boys wanted to walk up to the top of the "big hills" to look at the driving range...

... and of course race DOWN the hill as well :)

When we got home, Griffin went down for a nap and the boys, Dave and I enjoyed a surprise snack I had made (as in... I had someone who knows what they're doing make them - hahaha)  special just for our camp day.

Our "camp cookies" were a big hit and a fun treat for the afternoon.

Dave took the boys to the library, where they picked out books and a few movies that were all "camping" related.  We spent the afternoon reading books and working on a special "campfire craft"...

I cut out pieces of orange and red scrapbook paper and yellow crepe paper and the boys glued down popsicle sticks and the paper scraps to create their very own campfire!

Masons...

Luke's :)

(in typical Luke fashion... he had a plan for his from the start and I even had to hunt down yellow envelopes in my craft closet for him to use instead of the crepe paper since he wanted them to all be the same "texture".  That boy is sooooooooooo my child. hahaha)

For dinner we had sloppy joes... simple and "campy".  They're not my favorite thing in the world, but I think that they might be Dave's favorite meal ever - and apparently all three of my kids take after him :)

Gibi came down to hang out and watch us make smores on our little tabletop "fire pit" hahaha  It is WAAAAAAAAYYY too hot and dry here for any kind of outdoor fire, so we improvised... country club fashion :)

Mason only ate the chocolate...

... and I think Luke had at least two complete s'mores :)

 After dinner and s'mores, Dave went to a poker night with some friends and Haha stopped by and took both boys (Luke was already in PJs) out for frozen yogurt :)

The boys got home from froyo and started a movie in their sleeping bags and I found them like this about 10 minutes later...

They both told me at least once that this was the "best day ever" and I tend to agree :)  Nothing extravagant or over the top - just purposeful, quality family time.  I can't wait to surprise them with another camp day!  I'm thinking we'll definitely have one this Fall when it's more bearable to do actual outdoor activities, sleep outside and have a real campfire.