Summer Fun with Dadoo

Dadoo is the best! He takes us outside to...
Throw rocks into Campbell Creek
Go to the playground
Play hopscotch
We love outside time - Thanks Dadoo!

All Work and No Play

Quynn has shown an interest in developing her typing skills early. We are encouraging her efforts and we even LET HER TAKE BREAKS between essays.

Comedy Night at the Campbell's Costa Rican Style!

The Campbell crew gathered together last weekend for a low key evening to celebrate Father's Day but somehow the night turned out rather comical.

Daddy brought out some funny glasses and everyone took a turn wearing them.
Daddy had some surprise gifts to hand out from his trip to Costa Rica. He had a surprise for his dad as a Father's Day gift, one for his brother as an upcoming birthday gift, and one for Avrey as a belated birthday gift. What was the surprise?
So I know what you are thinking... BUT Fruity Monkey Poop isn't actually poop from monkey's that have eaten too many bananas. It is a sour gummy candy that a man from Vancouver created and now markets as a tourist gimmick in Costa Rica. Since Scott bought multiple shirts and some of the candy from the store, I would say that the man from Vancouver had a pretty unique and successful idea.

Avrey was not all that amused with her gift from Daddy but she perked up when Granny saved the day and brought out some fancy new shoes!!!
Then it was smiles all around!
But it wasn't all fun and games that night. It was one of Maggie's last nights in Alaska and so we decided to document it.
It turned out to be a night full of giggles and belly laughs - just the way every Father's Day should be!

Summer Solstice Celebration

Anchorage celebrated the longest day of the year last weekend by shutting down all of main street and throwing a fabulous Summer Solstice Celebration.

We began our adventure at the Saturday market where we danced to the music of a talented young violin artist and Avrey got her face painted like a Bird of Paradise. Then Avrey spied a man making balloon animals and she asked for a swan. To finish up at the market Avrey painted on the paint wall and Maggie bought some Alaskan souvenirs for her family.
Then it was off to walk down Main Street and find some more fun activities to do. We came upon teams playing water balloon volleyball, saw some pretty cool skateboarders doing tricks, and even watched some hip hop dancers. Then we posed for a few family photos.
As we traveled we saw some sled dog puppies, played in the massive sand box, danced with ribbons to some folk music, and met a pretty blue and green macaw.
Quynn even got to shake the hand of a super-sized puppet!
What a wonderful way to spend the longest day of the year. Anchorage got 19 hours and 22 minutes of sunlight that day!

Avrey's Pirate Party

To celebrate Avrey turning four years old we threw a Pirate Party for her and her friends.
Grammy, Pop Pop, and Uncle Kevin came dressed up as Pirates too.
Mama and cousin Maggie worked very hard to decorate the house so it was suitable for a bunch of pint-sized pirates.
The above sign warned the pirates as they arrived that there was fun ahead!
Then all the pirates had to walk the plank into the party.
Yep... that is the best Tic Toc Croc that Mama could make.
Inside all the pirates received an eye patch and headed up the seaweed stairway.
Quynn loved pulling the seaweed down as fast as Mama could tape it up.
Once the pirates made it upstairs they saw more pirate decorations. Mama got creative with the skull and cross bones as she was looking for a more feminine and less scary version.

Then it was time for tattoos (as all pirates need at least five right???) and Cousin Maggie did the honors. Thanks Maggs!
Then it was off to the food table to fill those empty pirate bellies.
The food table was a lot of fun. On the menu... bait (gummy worms), the catch of the day (gold fish), gold doubloons (chocolate coins), peg legs (carrot sticks), the crew's favorite (pizza), salty sea dog dip (ranch dressing), and puny pirate punch (Capri Sun fruit juice).

After all the puny pirates were finished eating it was time to decorate foam swords.
Then we played Pin the Parrot on Hook. It was a favorite among the scurvy sea dwellers!
Next we headed outside to play Pirate, Pirate, Booty (Daddy's unique version of Duck, Duck, Goose).
At that point Quynn woke up from her nap and sported her only pirate attire... skull and cross bone leg warmers.
After playing Pirate, Pirate, Booty it was time to head back inside for cake-pops and the main attraction... the TREASURE CHEST CAKE!!!
Grammy's friend made the cake and it was phenomenal!
After cake we opened gifts and then sent the pirates on a treasure hunt to find their treat bags before making them walk the plank one last time so the could head back home.
It was such a fun way to celebrate with Avrey and her friends.
AAAAAAAAAARGH MATEY!