Grandpa is 60!- June.

Our trip to Ohio had a fantastic grand finale- Grandpa's 60th birthday party!

We decided to each create something incorporating 60 things. Henry made a poster with 60 stamps (green in the upper left). Mine had 60 sticker (give or take a few). Natalie's picture of Grandpa featured 60 pieces of pasta. Henry colored a picture of ice cream because Grandpa loves ice cream. And mama glued 60 mini snickers bars to a poster. She was awfully proud of it until the wind knocked it off the wall and all the candy bars fell off. It was like busting open a pinata. And the kids all came running when the candy hit the ground.

Henry also cut out and pasted 60 cars.

Mama, Oliver and Natalie spent one afternoon cutting and stapling paper chains. This is mama's.

This was the work of Oliver, Henry and Mama.

Natalie (with some help from Henry and Oliver) created 60 Perler bead creations.

Aunt Jenni made Grandpa's nut necklace and mama made some cool "60" sunglasses. I hope we didn't go over the top.

But Uncle Kevin may have topped everyone when he showed up with 60 ice cream bars. Awesome!

Grandpa requested that we have a big campout for his party. We set up the tables in the driveway and the tents in the back yard and set a few ground rules. No one was allowed inside the house unless you had to use the bathroom and NO SHOWERS ALLOWED.

After our first night we woke up to a big breakfast of pancakes and sausages. Thanks Grandma!

Georgie was allowed to break the rules of the campout. Grandma volunteered to sleep inside with Georgie so the rest of us could sleep outside in the tent. We didn't figure Georgie would sleep very well out there. Thanks again, Grandma!

Tessa must have slept well because she was rocking soem awesome bedhead.

Mama found this walker at a garage sale and it came in handy all weekend for corralling Georgie. It didn't do such a good job of keeping track of her socks.

Aunt Jenni put Georgie in the tire swing. Georgie loved it until she got tired and fell asleep in the air. (Why didn't she ever sleep in the baby swing we had?)

She snoozed for a couple minutes while Aunt Jenni snuck in a cuddle.

Uncle Kevin also scored a bounce house from one of his friends and the older kids spent hours having fun inside.

Next up- a Slip N' Slide! Of course, Henry and I didn't have the guts to try it, but everyone else had fun.

Mama wrapped Tessa up like a burrito so she couldn't get away.

Mama's maid of honor, Miss Elizabeth (Queen), came down for the night to celebrate.
As of the campout, she lived in Ann Arbor, but now she lives in Denver.

We were so glad she was able to come down, but will miss seeing her when we're back int he Midwest. Hopefully we'll get a chance to go see her in the mountains!

Back to the party- we had a carrot cake to celebrate.

Along with more kids! The Meyer clan showed up for a cookout in the evening. Mama organized a "Minute to Win It" competition and chaos ensued.

The day ended with frozen cokes, campfires, and even a twilight chainsaw exhibition as Jake Coolman and Brandon Meyer cut down a few ash trees of Grandpa's. It doesn't get much better than that.