Camp Sammy - Est 2009

Sam wished for a camping party this year.  So, we built a Camp-in party in our house and tried to scale down the craziness from the years past.  We had lots of fun as a family building and decorating for the party.  Sam wanted a craft, a game, a special cake and to have it in his house.  We did our best to meet his wish list.
I found this year to be the most challenging to capture on my camera.  A busy house, with busy kids!  Sadly I didn't get all the shots I wanted, but I know Sam loved it and was exhausted tonight for bed!  Here are some of my favs...

We used marshmallows to paint pictures of bonfires.  I made camping style rain ponchos (aka garbage bag) and the kids got to work.

Tiniest artist!

 We also played a game where the kids got to pretend scooters were boats and then they went fishing.  It was cute but hectic, I never even thought of picking up my camera.  After an hour of madness in the basement, we came up for lunch and a camping cartoon.  It was nice and calm.  The crew headed back down to chalk the floor and play some more.

Sam told us he didn't want a normal cake this year.  He picked out ice cream sandwiches... so we built an ice cream sandwich tower.  Holy WAY more simple than decorating cupcakes!

Smith helping with the card!

So lucky to have wonderful friends!

Happy camper!

Sam's absolutely wonderful GREAT Aunties who came and partied with us.  Love you both like crazy!

Just hanging out in Sam's new tent... backyard campout in the summer anyone!?!?!

Gorday sandwich!

A couple of buddies reunited and had a blast together!

My sweet camper!  He kept calling the outhouse the 'warehouse' so he was asking his friends if they were going to go potty in the warehouse!!!  So funny!

Goody bags for our guests.

Thank you to all the people that came to celebrate Sam with us today.  He thought his birthday was so much fun and it's all thanks to having amazing friends and family.  It's hard to believe that this little critter is going to be 5 in the morning...

Aging Country Style

I celebrated my 31st birthday on the weekend... quiet, cloudy country day.  Sam refused to have my birthday without balloons so we headed into Sylvan to get balloons and for a happy meal!  I got to snuggle a tiny farm kitten, took an afternoon nap and watched Shaun take the maiden voyage on the kayak.  Shaun's parents took care of Sammy's bed time and we got to go on a date (first time in... ummm... hmmm... way too long!) and then meet up with a dear friend for a birthday drink hillbilly style.

My best little man.

I just know that hours of my life will be spent paddling around this little creek.  Shaun says it's beautiful just around the bend.  Can't wait to check it out.  

Family

The best ice cream cake I've ever eaten.  If this is what being 31 is like, count me in!!!

It's a Parrrrrrrrty! Sammy Turned 3!

My handsome little pirate invited all his friends and family to a party in the gym of my school.  It was a blast, from set up to take down and turned out to be a huge hit.  Prepare yourself... there are a lot of photos!

(I took some of the shots myself, but I need to give some photo credit to my Auntie Bobbi, Kaysi and Lindsay F.  Thanks ladies!)

Pirate grub!  Everything from rainbow fishies to a pirate ship fruit bowl to enough hot dogs to choke a shark!

Uncle Blair doing last minute cupcake decorating... thanks sooooo much! 

Pirate garb!

One of the brilliantly pirate-ish decorations Yanna did for us.  LOVE IT!

Loot bags

Kicked off the party with some pirate colouring sheets.  Super easy way to ease the kids into being together.  They loved them and I printed them off the internet... easy!

Birthday boy with one of the million balloons we blew up... soooo many popped but we just started calling it cannon ball fire and no one cried anymore!

Having a little snack while watching our guests arrive.  I counted 15 kids and about 30 adults... what a loved little boy!

Payton walking the plank.

Sammy peeking over Payton in the ship wreck!

This shot looks way more dangerous than it actually was... Lincoln taking the fun to a new level!

Sam walked the plank and hopped fearlessly into the ocean!

Another quick bite.

Kaysi made the cutest birthday shirt for Sammy... we did a costume change and he was soooo excited for his new outfit!

Kids dipping into the pirate costumes... soooo funny!
Captain Lincoln

Silly Sammy

Kiley and her mustache

Pirate Peyton!

Avery looking very sophisticated.

Logan hiding behind her giant mustache.

ARRRRRRRRRR!

<3 

Pirate garb table... BIG HIT!

Even baby Serry, Auntie and (great) Granny got in on the fun!

Auntie Bobbi brought this great parrot... the perfect addition to a pirate party.  It looked very real, moved, winked and talked.  It even munched on Colten's finger!!!  (Love Caedon's face in the background!)

The Gorday girls checking out our parrot friend.

Pretty P(irate)

Happy little lass!

Photo booth (bought at the dollar store and it made for many funny moments, especially when kids fell over trying to poke their head in the hole... hahaha)

Mac loving the millions of balloons!

Sammy trying to buy Peyton's attention

Pin the Patch on the Pirate.

How cute is the back of Sam's birthday shirt... perfect!

The kids were soooo good.  They all took turns and watched each other.  Love these kids.

Sam and his lovely ladies... what a lucky boy to be surrounded by beautiful girls all day every day!

Hilarious and very awkward moment... ask me about it some time!

Next stop... pinata time!  We couldn't find anything pirate like for a pinata and we left it too late to make one.  So, the next best thing was a Nemo one.  We filled it with fruit snacks, BEAUTIFUL necklaces and gold coins.  It was soooo heavy!

A very captive audience waits patiently for their turn and for someone to break it!

Baby S (and Auntie) take a hilarious turn.  Tons of fun!

Sam up again.

Logan using all her muscles

Then, the moment everyone was waiting for, Lincoln steps up to bat.  He swings so hard it breaks off the string and lands on the floor.  With only 2 seconds of hesitation, he begins to beat a hole in it while it's laying on the ground.  Soooo funny.  Afterwards my Gramma told me "I had my money on that one!"  

Shaking the pirate booty (not mine!  The goodies inside!)

Quickly the kids gathered as much as they could hold.

Everyone found tons of things the liked!

Sam scored jewels and some snacks... perfect!

What little boy couldn't resist a beautiful girl with a chocolate coin kiss!

He's not at all excited about this situation!

All the kiddies waiting and waiting for cake.

Big blow!

Avery enjoyed her cupcake.  Nothing compliments the chef more than a little face just like that one!

Present opening time... probably the most intense part of the whole day for me.  I really did feel like these little pirates had invade my ship and were going to loot me.  Fortunately they were just trying to be sooo helpful for the world's slowest gift opener.  I'm thinking next year we won't open presents in front of our guests... is that ok to do or is it politically incorrect/

A hug for Yanna... our very special friend who not only helped decorate but helped us party too!

A very played out pirate heads home with all his new treasures.  He felt so special and so loved and unbelievably happy.  We truly have some of the most incredible people that have shared in Sam's life with us.  We love each one of you and are so grateful that you could come be with us on this day.  How in the world did my tiny little baby turn into a three year old.  Happy birthday my Sammy.