Turning Four Outdoors: Harrison's Father/Son Camp Out Party

For the love -- somehow, some way, my Harrison is now FOUR! Yes, I know I've mentioned that a time or two hundred 'round these parts the last two weeks - and fair warning: Bella turns 3 next week, and my hub turns 38 the day after, so the overload of birthday posts will continue for a bit longer :0 - but we just love us some birthdays 'round here!

Anywho. To celebrate Harrison's birthday, we threw the same party we did when Banks turned 4: A Father-Son Camp Out. There were quite a few differences though, one being that Banks' party involved overnight camping in our backyard. Harrison's party involved overnight camping at a Charlotte campground. And because it was a strict "No Girls (nor siblings!) Allowed" policy, I was not there to document the fun. BUT my hub and one of the other awesome dads (thank you, J4!) did take a few pics for me, and I have some photos to share of the details leading up to the party. So, off we go! We were ready to celebrate this kiddo turning 4!  

Invitations & Shirts. I think I enjoy throwing smaller parties over larger ones, as I feel more able to spoil our sweet party guests. Harrison invited three of his buddies (and their dads) to his camp out. So, I decided to purchase each of the littlest campers matching shirts to wear, and I thought they looked SO cute when they each showed up to the camp out wearing them! We hand-delivered the shirts, along with the invitations, since the guests all live in our neighborhood. For the first time, I created the invitations myself, and it was really fun and not hard at all!

Favors. Fewer party guests also means more time for personalization of favors. :) Each of the four campers was given a tackle box that I personalized thanks to my trusty Silhouette Cameo. Within each tacklebox was a personalized water bottle, flashlight, glow sticks, wipes, and a few thematic snacks: 

Additionally, I created these "Scavenger Hunt" cards for them to use for a fun campsite activity: 

 

Food. My hub was in charge of dinner and breakfast for the party guests and made "Hobo packs" for the dads (aka hotdogs and potatoes and jalapenos and more, packaged in a tinfoil pack and cooked over the fire) and hotdogs for the kids for dinner. But, the guys needed sweets, too, right? Which is this baking momma's domain. I made s'mores cupcakes and sent them with my guys to the party. :)

Party Fun. Before they headed out, I had to snap a couple quick pics of my birthday boy...

...and then they were off and the party fun began! My hub and Harrison left around 3:30 and returned the next day about 9:30 am. Once they, and the party guests, arrived to the campsite, they pitched their tents, hit up the campground playground, fished (and caught three fish!), danced, made a campfire, ran wild, ate dinner, played with their tackle box goodies, sang "Happy Birthday" and ate cupcakes, talked about poop (the little guys, not the big ones ;) ), saw a wild raccoon, and, well, just had a BLAST.

Each of these four sweet boys has an older sibling, and I know firsthand that often it's the little brothers who are tagging along with the big kids. But not this time. Nope. It was these little dudes and their daddies ONLY, and I am hoping it's a night they will each remember fondly. <3 Thank you to our sweet friends who came along for the fun! We love you guys and are so thankful for Harrison and his camping squad. :) 

Happy Birthday, sweet, sweet boy. We love you, you happy camper, you. :) 

 

Cheers to the Weekend, FOUR the Love of Harrison Edition

Hi friends! It was Lu Crew Spring Birthday 1 of 3 this week, with Harrison turning the big 0-4 on Wednesday. It made for a fun-filled week of celebrating him, which will continue tonight with his party! More on that, and a few other things, we're saying CHEERS to this week/end below:

All things Harrison. I love, love, love birthdays. Are they exhausting? Yep. Are they worth all the trouble? Yep! The way I see it, each of my kiddos has one day each year that is ALL about him/her; so, we try to make things special from the second their eyelids open until they fall asleep in happy exhaustion by the end of the day. On Wednesday, my baby boy turned four! And his day went a little something like this: 

Wake up to the traditional door decorations and the family singing of "Happy Birthday" before hustling downstairs to see his presents, one of which was a new bike! And the boy LOVED it, riding it during every spare second he had all day (which has continued since). Then, get dressed in his birthday clothes before heading off to breakfast with Daddy. His choice? Dunkin Donuts (which worked out perfectly, as they were able to grab the celebratory donut holes he would take his school friends that day). Once home, I took him and his sweet friend to school.  As soon as I picked them back up a few hours later, we enjoyed a little Chick-Fil-A for lunch and then headed to our favorite local snow cone place, Pelicans, for a cool treat. 

 

 

Once home, I put Bella down for a nap and then Harrison and I spent a solid two hours outside, just the two of us. He rode his bike and we chatted away, during which, I asked him what he wanted to be when he grows up (He said, "Eight." "Eight?" I asked before realizing he wants to grow up to be eight because that is the age of his idol, his big brother, Banks <3 ). We then got Raleigh off the bus and the four of us headed to the toy store so Harrison could spend his birthday money (no surprise here - he spent it all on new cars :) ). 

We then came home and played some more while waiting for Clay and Banks to return home from Banks' field trip (more on that in a sec). I made Harrison's request for dinner: sprinkle pancakes with syrup, which everyone devoured! After talking to all of the thoughtful aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents who called, and watching a few video messages from friends :), it was time for cake! It is a tradition that I always make the cake for my Crew. For Harrison's cake this year, I wanted it to match the theme of his party tonight, which is a father/son camp out. So, I made it look like a stump - ha! We played a bit more, hit the bath, and then it was time for shut eye for all. It truly was a great day for our sweet boy, and I know he is SO excited to finish out the celebrating while camping out tonight. Happy Birthday, Harrison! We love you with all our hearts!

Zoo time. I remember hearing about the second grade field trip when school first started back in the Fall, and ohmygosh how is it already Spring and how is the field trip already behind us? Crazy, I tell ya! Because the big field trip fell on Harrison's birthday (of all days!), my hub volunteered to chaperone so that I could spend the day back home spoiling our birthday boy. AND, because the zoo is like 20 minutes from my parents' house, my mom was able to join them for the day! They had a BLAST and were absolutely wiped when they finally arrived back home around 4:45 pm. A great day for all, indeed!

Girls weekend away. Last weekend was SO needed and so good for my soul. I was able to sneak away for the weekend with four of my best friends in the world, my Clemson girls. Our friendship turns 19 years old this year, and I cannot begin to describe how thankful I am for each of my girls. Although there were a few more that weren't able to to make it (and were greatly missed <3 ), the weekend with my girls just filled my cup. Our hours upon hours upon hours of talking - catching up and reminiscing and offering advice and sharing stories and laughing and just being authentic was just...awesome. Our time together always goes way too fast, but I am so thankful for the time we do get together.

Baseball continues. I mentioned last week that Banks was nominated to try out for the All-Star baseball team. We weren't sure whether he would make it or not and were prepared to adequately address either outcome with him. Well, we found out earlier this week that he made it! And was drafted onto a team with a coach we highly respect. So, baseball will continue into the summer for our Bankster! It's going to make things a little busier since he and Raleigh are also doing swim team for the first time, but we are thrilled for him and are excited to cheer on him and his teammates as they work hard to try to make it to the state championship!  

And now, we say CHEERS to Friday - yeehaw! There's not a whole lot on the docket this weekend -- baseball pics and a teeball game tomorrow, dance pics and church on Sunday -- and that is all that is on our calendar (well, aside from Harrison's father/son birthday campout party tonight, but this momma will be home and cozy in bed, my own lil' version of glamping - ha!). I'm sure there will be playdates scattered in and projects completed around the house, but we'll be happy to let them happen as they come. We have a chock-full month of busy May weekends on the horizon; so, you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be enjoying the down time this weekend and aiming to get some stuff D.O.N.E. Have a great one, y'all! Be back soon!

Four

You put the J in the JOY,
you sweet little boy;

And I don't know what I'd do,
if life was filled with all it has
but missing an ounce of YOU. 

You see... 

You are fun and delightful 

mischievous and sly,

love to make others laugh,  

ask, "Why, why, why?" 

You are snuggly and loveable 

so happy and smart; 

Give the world's best hugs, 

have the kindest heart. 

You're the sneakiest sneakster 

and polite as they come; 

A good friend to all,  

that's YOU little one! 

Harrison, I don't know what we'd do,
if this world was missing an ounce of you.
You are joy, you are joy, you are joy,  

handsome boy, 

and we love you through and through. 

Harrison Robert, I have never known a snugglier, happier, kinder, sneakier, politer little one than you. You bring so much light and love to our family, and we thank God for you every single day. Happy 4th birthday, baby boy. You are so very loved. 

With All My Heart,  

Momma