It's a Wild, Wild, Wild-Life!

The theme for Sierra and Ally's combined birthday party this year was "Wildlife" or "The Great Outdoors" or "Camping" or "Creation" - or anything except "A Nature Party" because we were afriad that people get the impression that they should arrive in their birthday suits.  It was not THAT kind of party.  Anyway - it was a HOOT!  (Probably my favorite party yet.)

The river was cold, but perfect for hours and hours of water play.  The kids soaked all the rafters as they went around the bend and built elaborate sand structures for the clams that they found.

Riley was in his own little world.

The big "game" of the party was a Scavenger Hunt all over the woods.  Teams were split up and sent out to gather things like a wildflower bouquet, tree sap, a feather, a littered soda can, an insect, etc.

Grandma Phyllis won the bonus points for the most unique natural item found that morning.  Check out the elk/deer carcass that she's proudly hauling in!  EW.  She found it in a special little place that she likes to call "the valley of the shadow of death."

The kids were impressed!

One of Riley's greatest pleasures in life is to make a campfire with Grandpa.  But Grandpa likes to douse his wood in gasoline to make sure it starts quickly.  Run, Riley, run!

 S'MORES before bedtime.  Enough said. 

The kids all slept in tents on the lawn and listened to the sound of the forrest all night long.  I say kids, because of course the adults DID NOT SLEEP.  We were in the tents as well....but between the mosquito bites, wiggly children, full bladders and Valerie's coughing, there wasn't much sleep going on for us.

As Patrick McManus would say, It was a fine and pleasant misery!

Thanks to our good friends who joined in on this crazy adventure with us...and who still have the sunburns and mosquito bites to show for it.  You are good sports!