Lake Livingston Camp Out

We had our first family campout of 2014!  We went to nearby Lake Livingston State Park, which is beautiful with lots of great places to explore.  Unfortunately, we had to cut it short because of an ice storm, but it was fun while it lasted!

The boys going up the observation tower.

At the tippy top.

Looking out at the lake and all that is below.

A distant shot of Randy and Brady out on a dock.

Sitting lakeside with Dawson.

A perfectly wise and safe thing to do - balance on the cement barrier by the water.

Cute Brady.

Enjoying the old school slide.

There were tons of great balancing logs.

Playing around at the camp site.

Bike riding, always a fun thing to do on family campouts.

Cute and silly Brady.

Handsome Dawson.

Our pet squirrel.  They were so friendly and tame!

Hanging out at the frog pond observation area.

Being silly.

Peeking out of one of the windows at the bird watching hut.

Awe, love that smile and that boy!

Sunset over the lake.

Beautiful!

And so precious.

Oldest Friends

Dawson's 2 oldest friends, who he's been fortunate enough to have been friends with since he was 3 years old:

Kaelin & Dawson

Seth & Dawson

Snow Day!

Some pictures from a rare snow day:

A Game of Present Opening

This year, we made a game of Dawson's birthday present-opening.  I divided all of his presents into 4 categories, then put them into 4 big boxes (well, 1 was in a big bag).  Each box had an envelope attached, and inside each envelop was a puzzle that he had to solve (which revealed the category of gifts inside) before he could open the presents inside.  Fun times!

His first box was full of books!  I love that look as he unwrapped the big box to reveal lots of other smaller wrapped presents.

The newest Geronimo Stilton graphic novel.

A trivia book, always interesting.

More Geronimo Stilton books.  (He also got some classics, a Star Wars book, a Sports Illustrated trivia book and subscription to Sports Illustrated Kids from Granny, and Harry Potter books from Nanny.)

On to the next big box!

Full of video game related gifts.

A Skylanders video game, a new series he is particularly fond of this year.

Thank you, Aunt Julie, for something to store and organize all those Skylanders characters!

More Skylanders.

And a big hug for Brady for his birthday presents.

Breakfast break - cinnamon muffins and strawberries.

Reading his next puzzle to solve.  This one was "games."

The fun game, Pay Day.  (He also got Scrabble and Thinkfun Math Dice.)

Reading the last and final puzzle challenge.

This big bag contained his "outdoor toys."

Tetherball, a super fun classic!

A Razor Ripstik skateboard.  (He also got knee/elbow pads and a volleyball in his outdoor toys sack.)