- Matt- "Mom, can I have a sleep over for my birthday?"
- Me -" I guess so, who are we inviting?"
- Matt- "We need two packs of 8 invitations"
- Me - "Um, I don't think so, 16 kids, no way!!
- Matt- "ok, how about 8?"
And so it was agreed upon, however, somewhere along the way, we ended up with 10. (who is in charge? are you wondering?).
The plans were made:
- 10 flashlights for flashlight tag , identical and complete with their names on them -check
- 10 star wars cups and straws - labeled with their names - check
- 10 matching bags - labeled with their names ( a theme is emerging, I don't want any fighting!)
- Pinata
- Bounce house
- 10 mini legos to give away -check check check.
So as if this sleepover wasn't enough for us to do in one day, we decided to have a family party on the same day (two birds--one stone) so to speak! The family party started at 2 and everyone was gone by 5 (in an effort to give me an hour to relax and prepare for the night ahead). Even my oldest son said "Mom, I never subjected you to that" (kids are all different, aren't they?)
Fast forward 6PM.
They started to arrive, one by one, immediately heading for the bounce house. As it started to fill up, I was thinking I probably should have had a bigger one ( and maybe one that locked from the outside ;)) just kidding. Every mom who dropped off their kid either had a horror story to tell me or offered a prayer for my survival. I have to admit, I was kinda scared.
First there was pizza, next a scavenger hunt, Mike thought a spoon relay race complete with real eggs (not hard-boiled) would be fun, indoors. The boys thought this was fun but insisted the eggs should have been hard-boiled ;), not a single one broke on the floor. (they must have been thinking of their own moms :)
The main event was 'flash-light tag. They knew we would be playing because I put it in the invitation and so it began, pre-teen boys and one large boy (Mike) outside, in the dark for flash-light tag. The bounce house served useful because I broke them up into two teams. When one team captured their victims they had to go in the bounce house, it was like 'jail' complete with niece Maggie as the jailer. (Thank goodness for her!)
They started to arrive, one by one, immediately heading for the bounce house. As it started to fill up, I was thinking I probably should have had a bigger one ( and maybe one that locked from the outside ;)) just kidding. Every mom who dropped off their kid either had a horror story to tell me or offered a prayer for my survival. I have to admit, I was kinda scared.
First there was pizza, next a scavenger hunt, Mike thought a spoon relay race complete with real eggs (not hard-boiled) would be fun, indoors. The boys thought this was fun but insisted the eggs should have been hard-boiled ;), not a single one broke on the floor. (they must have been thinking of their own moms :)
The main event was 'flash-light tag. They knew we would be playing because I put it in the invitation and so it began, pre-teen boys and one large boy (Mike) outside, in the dark for flash-light tag. The bounce house served useful because I broke them up into two teams. When one team captured their victims they had to go in the bounce house, it was like 'jail' complete with niece Maggie as the jailer. (Thank goodness for her!)
- Head counting occurred almost every five minutes, it didn't occur to me in the planning stages that I might lose a kid (even though I was at home) --luckily, I counted 10 every time :)
The finale, a pinata , presents for Matt, and he had a small gift for each of them. He gave them each a lego spaceship, I was AMAZED each of them sat down for what seemed like a long time building their spaceship. (It was the first quiet moment we had all evening, and almost the last). Did I mention, I decided at the last minute not to do cake and ice cream? (Are you kidding me, sugar them all up after they had just quieted down? NO WAY).
At 10 they settled in for a movie, at midnight we shut off the lights and told them go to sleep.
Fast Forward 7am Sunday- like wild birds on a summer morning they all woke up loudly together. Only it wasn't 7am as my clock would have told me. "Fall Back"-UGH! 6am! 10 boys ready and raring to go. (Seriously? I have 4 hours to entertain them?) OMG.
- Breakfast-pancakes, eggs, bacon, doughnuts, juice and chocolate milk
- Sure you can go in the bounce house at 7:30 am, a little 'frost' outside isn't gonna hurt you!
- I had a trick in my back-pocket that I didn't use the night before -- two Wii's, two TV's, we set up Mario Cart for those who were not quite ready to take on the outdoors.
The last 4 hours felt like forever! We were finally down to 1 kid (our own), we told him he could have whatever he wanted for dinner, and he could make it himself, an indication of being alot older as a parent this time around. We were all in bed, fast asleep by 8:30 pm Sunday night, exhausted!
Would I do it all over? Yes these boys, although loud, are; creative, opinionated, passionate, spirited and already showing leadership qualities. Would I do it again? ah, that is a different question, NO WAY! not with that many boys! Hooray for no crying, no injuries, no trips to the ER. I enjoyed getting to know some of Matt's closest friends a little better and I can't wait to watch these boys grow up into young men, who will most certainly eat me out of house and home. I hope they will be friends for life!
One of Matt's best pals, said on Sunday ' I was disappointed we didn't do cake and ice cream?" LOL, Mike said, oh darn we must have forgot! (HAH!)
In the end and already recovered, a memory we will not soon forget! Life, Love & All that jazz-- celebrated the 'destination' because I was too darn busy to enjoy the journey!
