Camping with Daddy and Papa

Saturday Zach turned turned thirty and we spent his birthday weekend with his family in SEMO. Saturday evening Zach and Zane "went camping." Grammi, Pappa, Rowan, and I joined them for the early stages of this camping adventure. Zane and Zach had set up camp down by the pond behind Grammi and Pappa's house. They had a tent, sleeping bags, fishing stuff, smore stuff, then all they needed was a camp fire. Zane has helped Zach build numerous fires, so he knew right away what to do and started gathering little sticks and pine needles to throw on the fire. He helped blow on it to get the flames bigger, and helped gather big pieces of wood for later.

After the fire was started, it was time for some fishing. Apparently Zane gets to be in charge of his own fishing pole now. Last time I was part of the fishing fun at Papa's Daddy or Papa held it for him. But now he knows how to real it in, but casting is another story. The hook was removed before we got there, which is a good thing since Zach quickly took a bobber to the ribs, leaving a big bruise immediately. It didn't take long for his line to break, but Zane didn't care, he pretended to fish along side Papa and Daddy. This remains the cutest thing I've ever seen. I think it was cuter this time, set to the back drop of a beautiful sunset. 

After Zane's fishing pole broke he tried to fix it himself, "I not need help daddy, I fix it."

We cooked smores, with way too big of marshmallows, making it nearly impossible to eat. Zane got covered in melted marshmallows, which he then proceeded to try to clean off his hands with gram crackers. So funny! They fished, they ate, and then it was time for those of us not camping to head back to the house. Zach and Zane stayed behind to "camp" in their tent with the sleeping bags Zane as so excited about using. Zach told me that they had gotten in their sleeping bags and were looking out the window of their tent when they saw the lights of the house. Then Zane said, "well.... this has been fun, I want to see my mamma." Then they headed back to the house to sleep. 

These pictures were also the cutest thing ever because it was all happening on the third anniversary of Zane's other Grandfather's passing away. I would kill for a picture of my dad and Zane fishing. Their heads would look exactly alike, with their ears sticking out and the white hair. Zach's birthday is always a rough day. I can't help but think about all that dad is missing/missed. I still can't believe that he isn't here. I can't believe that he hasn't met Rowan, but life goes on. We treasure the moments like this we have with our loved ones. I count my blessings that Zane still has one Grandfather to fish with and to take him on tractor rides. And I treasure the fact that my son gets to have a wonderful father of his own to make memories with.