Standing in the Kitchen Kate looked at all she had managed to find. There were a lot of sausages and burgers. She had also managed to find some potatoes and tins of beans. it was perfect the typical camping scran, and it could all be cooked outside to give the perfect authentic camping experience.

She was just putting the things in the cooler when Mike walked in looking pleased with himself.

"what are you so chipper about" she asked as she opened the fridge looking for anything else that they could use. There was some cheese and mini corn on the cobs. Pulling them out she added those to the cooler.

"you will have to wait and see" he walking up behind he wrapping his arms around her. "so what have you found to have as the camping feast"

"sausages, burgers baked beans and some potatoes" she said smiling

"right and how are we going to cook the potatoes" he grinned.

"well, I am going to make bonfire potatoes. Cut them up, drizzle them with oil add seasoning maybe a bit of spice. Wrap them up in foil and then chuck them in the fire for half a hour till they are done" she said grabbing the knife out of the block. "then we can add cheese, salsa, sour cream smashed avo. There are a lot of toppings you can add" she smiled

"you are amazing. I think you missed your calling you would have made a fab chefo" he grinned

"not really, I saw it on the food network" she grinned

"and what are we going to have with these" he asked

"burgers and I thought we could have those corns" she stated

"defiantly a chefo" he grinned

"whatever" she grinned "anyway as this camp out was your idea have you got some S'mores stuff?" she asked chucking the cubes of potato in the bowl.

"no. I am just off to woollies to get some now " he smiled. "anything else we need?" he asked.

"no not that I can think of" she smiled

"okay then. Grace you need to make sure mummy doesn't go outside okay she can't see anything" he smiled at Grace who ran in at that moment.

"yes Sir" She saluted her father grinning before standing in place by the back door.

"Bye then" Kate called as the front door closed

Turning back to the bowl she picked up the oil drizzling it over the potatoes before adding salt, pepper and a touch of paprika. Mixing it all up she portioned it out on to the foil parcels ready for the fire later on. It was simple and easy the potatoes should go crispy like chips. The corn was simple as well and she had some chili butter in the freezer which would melt beautifully on the corn.

It was almost a hour before mike arrived back and he was carrying several bags.

"i thought you were only going for the S'mores stuff" she said as he placed a bag on the counter.

"no that is where you are wrong. There were a few more bits I needed from the store. Stuff for outside" he smiled

"oh" said Kate surprised "so can I have a look now?" she smiled coyly

"no. I still have some things to sort out" he said making his way to the back door.

"seriously. It's a bloody camp out" she called looking at him. "fine then" she said when she knew he wouldn't back down. "I'll just" she indicated to the sofa before walking in to the living room.

Sitting down she pulled her feet up sighing. So far this had not been the best of birthdays, she couldn't go out or see friends like she had planned but it wasn't exactly the worst. It was one of only a handful of birthdays she had been on shore since joining the navy so it wasn't all bad.

Sitting up she noticed Grace walking along the hall carrying what looked like at least 10 of her teddies before dropping them at the back door. She then turned running back to the stairs. Following her Kate caught her on the stairs

"Grace, what is all that?" she asked

"Daddy told me to get my things for the tent" she smiled as if it was obvious

"i think he may have meant your doona and pillows. Not your whole bed." Kate smiled

"i am getting that I just need to get everybody else" Grace climbed another 2 steps

"Grace. You can't take all your teddies into the tent, there has to be room for Nicole and Chris. Just pick one okay"

"But they will be lonely Mummy" Grace pulled her bottom lip up

"Grace one" Kate said

"but..." Grace wailed

"one" Kate laughed at her daughter's persistence. she defiantly was a card

"fine" Grace sulked stomping back in to the kitchen picking up all the teddies before stomping back up the stairs.

Shaking her head Kate smiled as she could hear Grace telling the teddies not to worry and it wasn't her fault and she would only be away for one night.

Sitting back on the sofa she looked at her watch it was after 3pm and mike was still working on the tent. Whatever he was doing he was certainly taking his time.

He walked in half an hour later smiling. "close your eyes" he said softly

"Why" she grinned walking towards him.

"just close your eyes" he whispered taking her hands leading her outside.

Standing behind her he wrapped his arms around her waist. "and open" he whispered in to her ear.

Opening her eyes she blinked her eyes getting used to the changing light. Looking around she couldn't believe what she was seeing. The garden had been transformed and looked amazing like a festival. There were fairy lights strung in the trees and around the tent. A sheet had been hung on the wall for a film to be projected on later. 2 large beanbags and 3 smaller ones had been set around the fire pit facing the sheet. old pallet had n covered with a cloth and laid like a table.

"Wow" Kate said she was virtually speech less

"wait to you see what it is like inside the tent" he smiled pulling the door aside so she could walk in. There were 2 compartments of the central main on. To the right she could see it had been made nice and cosy with 3 air-beds for the children and some twinkly battery-operated butterfly lights. and to the right was their 'room' which had the double air bed. It was cosy and sweet.

"Mike" she said turning "this is amazing" she smiled wrapping her arms around his neck

"happy birthday Kate" he whispered teasing her in to a kiss.

so hope you enjoy. the camp-out food is what I found on google and also based on what we had on my guide camps. (literally my first camp all we had every meal was sausages) also I dont know about you but as a kid when I would go on holiday I would want to take all my teddies and couldn't so would do a dramatic fairwell to them all and then instruct a 'older' teddy to look after them all :P (I still say bye to them now )

I hope you are all well and doing okay.

let me know what you think xx