When I considered plans for my husband’s birthday, I explored seat sales for weekends away, cottages around the province and events we could attend. Then, I realized that we just bought a beautiful home and we’ve been so busy that we haven’t spent much time enjoying it.

So in lieu of going away, we spent his birthday in our own backyard, literally. Jacob and I sent along an Evite (pictured) to a backyard family campout to celebrate his special day. That was the plan, anyway, until Mother Nature rained, quite literally again, on our parade. We cancelled our plans in lieu of a rented movie, but then, a birthday miracle happened! The clouds parted over our backyard oasis and within an hour, the sun had dried the rain and we were back in business.

Husband quickly set to work assembling the new fire pit that Jacob and I bought him as a birthday gift (Walmart, $58). Jacob and I set up the tent, and we all savoured every moment of sun we could soak.

In an attempt to keep Jacob from eating as much grass and dirt as marshmallows, Husband started throwing the soiled ones into the back field. One rogue ’mallow didn’t go as planned and made a lovely mess on his sandal (pictured), which meant Dad took bath duty that night, since he was just as sticky as his boy.

Despite the change in the weather, the forecast wasn’t to be trusted, and with the threat of potential thundershowers (that didn’t actually come to pass) we decided it wouldn’t be wise to sleep over in the tent. We kept it set up though with the hopes of trying again soon.

In the end, Jacob reveled in playing outside an extra hour beyond bedtime, his first roasted marshmallows, searching for slugs on the lawn and playing catch with Dad (because what Dad doesn’t love to celebrate his birthday by buying his son a new ball glove?!).

Score -- Us: 1; Rain: 0.