twenty8

Yowzers.

It's only been a couple days, but I must say that twenty-eight is great!  {plus I have suddenly become a poet}.  Here is the thing about birthdays, well my birthday in particular, 95% of the time the "celebrating weekend" falls on Labor Day weekend.  This was the bane of my existence as a teenager.  You see, I grew up in a camping family.  And by camping family I mean that grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, family-friends and all the dogs - would pack up every weekend possible during the summer and go camping.  We would go to 12-mile, just past Mayfield, Utah - every time.  We would find a spot on the mountain, circle the motor-homes, fifth wheels, and trailers and spend a weekend basking in the sun, riding four wheelers, fishing, hiking, paint-balling, playing games, and spending time with our family.  Sounds fabulous, right?  It really was.

Labor Day, however, was the mother of all camping trips.  The last camping trip of the year before hunting season.  The last hoo-rah before fall came.  It was like a family commandment that we had to camp on Labor Day and come hell or high water {or a birthday} we were camping.  Starting at about age 10 I would complain every year {my poor parents}.  I didn't want to go camping on my birthday, I wanted a party with friends and party-hats not dirt and four wheelers.  Crazy.

My parents, well my entire family really, would make it special every year.  My mom would bring a cake and candles along with us. She would always let me bring along friends. She would haul gifts to the mountain and make a big celebration out of the day, just for me, because she knew how important it was.  Everyone would eat cake sing happy birthday around the campfire and I was always reminded how loved I was.  Yet, every year we would go through it again.  {kids, oh the drama!}

As I have gotten older I have really cherished those birthday camping trips.  I look back and remember that it was on those trips that I learned to cast a fishing line and gut a fish.  It was on those trips that I learned to ride a four wheeler up the steepest of mountains and learned that helmets really do save lives.  It was on those trips where family became friends, where we bonded over games and stories.  I have so many happy memories from camping, some sad ones and a few that if I told - you would say, "ah yes - that sounds just like Amber."

I remember, like it was yesterday, being on a Labor Day camping trip and walking to the trailer with my dad.  We were talking about how I hoped one day I would be home on my birthday and he said, "Amber one day you are going to realize that family is the most important thing you have."  He was right.

So, this year when Ben asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday I said, "I want to go camping with my little family."  My how the tables have turned.

The week leading up to my birthday Ben had a few sweet surprises up his sleeve.
Of course, first we got our sweet little addition to our family.  When we drove out to look at little Oliver we weren't going to make a decision, but somehow this little bundle of fur stole our hearts and I am so glad he did.

He worked every night for a week painting and refinishing my latest "find" that I recently added to our "It would be so fun re-do this" list.  He looked at me on Monday night and said, "I want to get that desk finished for your birthday.  I am going to work on it."

It's a gorgeous writing table that is now sitting in our entry way.  I am in love with it and my sweet hubs did the chevron pattern PERFECTLY.  We might possibly have a tutorial on how to do this later. We'll see.

After Ben came home from work on Thursday I walked out to the back porch and found all my favorite treats and some beautiful roses waiting for me!

{Do you see Ben and Oliver playing in the background?}

Apparently Oliver loves roses too! At least the taste of them....

Finally on Saturday we packed up the truck to go camping!  Before we left Ben asked if I would go get the mail.  I told him we don't need the mail, we can get it when we get home. He asked again to PLEASE go get the mail.  Ok.... fine.
When I pulled the mail out there was a little tiny package hidden under a magazine.  It only look half a second for me recognize the adorable Antropologie gift card package.  I ran in the house and said, "Is this for me???"  IT WAS!!  I'll be honest, if there would have been an Anthro on the way to our campsite I would have stopped right then!

What a happy birthday week and what a fabulous, thoughtful husband I have. I sure love him.
Finally, we were ready to get our camp on.

We had a blast camping! It was beautiful weather and just the relaxing break we needed.

As soon as we set up camp Oliver found his favorite spot.  He fell asleep in this spot multiple times a day and would dig to the cold ground to cool off from the 90 degree weather.

First birthday picture of the day!

We hiked down to Wind River and Oliver had his first swim!  He isn't huge on baths or sprinklers yet so Ben and I were both surprised to see him splashing around.  

He found some warm rocks to dry off on and work on his tan.

In case you didn't know, Ben has a super hip and also very useful fanny pack.  No, they aren't in, but this is hiking not Disneyland so we can go with it!

Our series of self portraits/ goofy pictures.  It's a must.

Ben made birthday dinner over the fire and our very own cups!!  Man, that Leatherman really came in handy!We had a very romantic camping birthday toast.  Perfect. 

This may have been the best lemon cake that we have EVER eaten.  A&J's in Stevenson Washington really does it right.   

We can't forget a family photo before we head home!

Here's to a fabulous 28th birthday and many more to come!