Our Amazing 50th Birthday Camping Party

Well I guess it is time to

post a blog...all the camping gear has

been put away...That wonderful

smokey camp fire smell has been washed

from our clothes.

Sticky marshmallow scrubbed off the

hot dog sticks....

Sigh

I love camping

This year my husband did something a

little different and special.

You see last week was my

50th Birthday.

So instead of just us camping

he threw me a Camping Birthday Weekend Bash

And we had several friends and family

come with us.

Our camp site is pretty primitive

No running water...or electricity

On the edge of my Grandparents farm

right on the Willamette River

A beautiful and Special place

We came down to the site on Friday

with our friends Shannon and Jason

They have 5 kids...3 came camping

Can you tell from the chairs.

It made me laugh as the chairs kept

coming out.

It looked like a movie theater.

Once camp was set up

the boys headed to the river.

Mine is on the right...lol

That night we played

with glowsticks..

Baked potatoes on the fire

watched the stars

and the bats

Laughed late into the night

The next day

More swimming in the river for the kids

Rock hounding for us grown ups.

I wandered down to the river and took a nap

Bees buzzing-birds singing

Our friend Dana came

Nate and Kacy too

Lar and Jodie my hubby's brother and sister-in-law

The camp was filling up

After a long day of playing

Dinner at last.

Saturday night...

Bats

owls

Heron that squawked in the night

Fire

Glow sticks-Lots of laughter

The next morning coffee tasted so good

More river walking

Kids swimming till they wore themselves out

Around noon

My sister showed up and more visiting

After lunch my husband booked into town for the cake

he had ordered (He did this all by himself..jeesh)

And after he got back it was time to decorate

They all had fun with crepe paper

Now bear with me...I know this blog is getting really long

More friends showed up who did not want to camp

My cousin Lance too

And then I guess it was time for them

all to make me cry.

I was so overwhelmed that Jer and Jordan had done

this for me.

Before everyone came

my son had given me his gift.

It is not a good picture

But maybe you can tell what it is.

An agate he had found in the river

It looks like a moonstone (but it is not)

 His dad had it made into a pendant

Jordan had found it when he was walking in the

river by

our camp  with my sister two weeks before

He said he knew he wanted to give it to me for my

birthday the moment he picked it up.

Sons...sigh

The afternoon

was so fun

My sister-in-law

gave me a most ingenious gift and it made us all

laugh.

50 gifts that each had 50 items in them

And...inside the 50 gifts...50 50cent pieces

that's a lot of 50's

I wish I had pictures for you.

My own sister's gift was a book of memories

And with every decade a gift.

One made me cry very hard..

My Grandmother's Betty Crocker Cook Book

lol..She got me with that one.

We had burgers and hot dogs for dinner

Yummy salads everyone had brought.

Kay had given me stargazer lily's and

their fragrance filled the campsite.

One last surprise visitor.

Erin and her sweet pea Sophie

Erin had run a triathlon earlier in the day

and still managed to make it.

Sophie was a little angel..She loves nature

And was making googly eyes at Jordan

Sweet Sophie is named after Erin's cat

who she got from me. Tee hee

The day at last came to a close...

Kay and Dave headed home....

Lance off too....

Erin and Sophie home to a well deserved rest...

Shannon and her gang pulled out...trying to get home by

sunset...

Things became quiet

We sat by the fire

talking about our day.

My family and friends

kept me laughing late into the night

Jordan and I played with glow sticks again

It was a wonderful Birthday party.

I know this is pretty long...and there is still a whole

weeks worth of camping left.

But I had to share these first  few days with you.

My husband put this whole

thing together mostly on his own

My sister offered to help...so did my sister-in-law

and Shannon and Jill (Poor Jill-they missed out cause of a trip

to Canada)

But he did it all himself.

(well..Larry did help him with the invites)

That's my hubby..enjoying a moment

watching us all having fun in the

river.

Thank you Jer for a wonderful week

and an amazing Birthday!!!