Kate headed downstairs, as much as she wanted to stay in bed all day she couldn't as nothing would get sorted. Walking in to the living room she sighed, Grace still hadn't tided up the toys she had strewn all over the floor. Sighing how could her 6-year-old be so messy. But then judging on the state of her bedroom then this was nothing. Picking up the things she placed them back in the toybox under the window. She had learnt fairly quickly like on the ship somethings it was just easier to do yourself rather than hunting down Grace to make her tidy it.

Walking in to the kitchen she pulled her water bottle from under the sink. Filling it with water from the jug in the fridge she smiled as Mike walked in from the back garden.

"what you doing out there?" She asked

"just tidying up. You know mowing the grass pulling up the weeds" he smiled

"so the stuff I asked you to do last week" she grinned "anyway I am going to go for a run" she smiled picking up her bottle and I-pod off the side. Looking at him, he was hiding something but she couldn't quite put her finger on what.

"great" Mike smiled this was perfect he could put his plan in to action. "be careful"

"I will" she smiled "i am only going to do a 5K round the park" she said watching as he headed back out in to the garden. He was defiantly planning something. Putting it out of her mind she headed to the front door, pressing play on her I-pod she set off.

She ran around the park before heading back along the main road. She enjoyed running there was so much open space in Cairns, it was exhilarating and gave her chance to escape and gather her own thoughts.

Returning home, she headed straight through to the kitchen for a drink. looking out the window she could see Mike struggling with something. Placing her glass on the side she made her way outside.

"what are you doing?" she asked walking towards him.

"Kate" Mike poked his head from under the canvas he was holding "I umm your back" he stammered.

"clearly" she grinned "so what are you doing" she asked walking round the mess that was on the lawn.

"putting up a tent" He smiled

"right..." she said wondering why he was putting up a tent. "well do you want some help?" she grinned

"I think I will be okay" mike smiled "how was your run?" he asked

"good. Well I'll just go get changed then if you don't need any help" she said pointing back towards the house.

Heading upstairs she watched from the window. Mike was struggling to put the tent up and failing. Grinning she changed out of her running clothes in to some jeans and a tee, before going back downstairs. she sat in the kitchen watching Mike through the kitchen window still struggling with the tent.

Walking back outside she looked at him. "still think you can do this on your own?" she grinned bending down picking up the instructions that were attached to the bag. "have you actually read these" she smiled holding them out to him knowing full well he more than likely hadn't because he never did look at the instructions, like most men he claimed he didn't need them and was could easily figure them out.

"well I …" he paused

"give that here" she grinned taking the tent pole he was holding off him.

After 20 minuets she stood back looking at the tent which was now erected properly and anchored down.

"how! " Mike asked looking at her in shock he had spent the best part of the last 2 and a half hours trying to put the tent up

"well one we are in the Navy surly you have been on Ex-peds and had to put up a tent and 2. I was in the girl guides we went camping every year. If you got the tent up first then you got more points for your patrol. We always won" she grinned

"you were a girl guide" he grinned "bet you looked cute in your little blue dress" he grinned eyes darkening a little

"shut up" she smiled reading where his mind was going "it was the ugliest uniform ever. But what is with the tent?" she asked sitting on the chair next to him.

"well I thought we could have a camp out for your birthday." he smiled

"really" she smiled

"yeah, we can watch a movie on the wall, camp fire" he smiled pointing to the fire pit on the patio "midnight snacks" he grinned.

"and you think the Kids are going to be game for a night in a tent without the tech" she grinned

"well they wanted to help. Grace is raiding the house for pillows and blankets as we speak"

"really" Kate smiled watching as Grace appeared at the back door.

As soon as she saw the tent, she dropped all she was carrying running out "you did its daddy" she smiled "how did you manage that" she asked

Folding her arms Kate looked at Mike "yes how did you manage that daddy"

"it was your mum" Mike admitted defeat quicker than Kate had thought.

"wow mummy" Grace smiled "your so clever"

" yes sweetheart well I am more than just a pretty face sweetheart "Kate grinned. "so, are we going to make this tent cosy?" she asked waking in to the main compartment. There were 2 sides to the tent so Kate and Mike could have one and then the Kids the other. "you can blow the bed up; I will go see what we have in the freezer for the barbie" she smiled. Walking back in to the house "oh and mike remember the instructions" she grinned knowing that would wind him up.

"just you wait this will be a top-notch glamping site when I am done" he called after her

so this is part 2 and there is at least another part. so I was a guide in the 00's/10's and loved camping, (we did actually race to put up the tent fastest) and when I last went camping me and my friend who was a girl scout actually helped a couple of people put their tent up as we were board. hope you like this and hopefully I will have more later or tomorrow. enjoy x