Water Party!!

Today my kids had the first of what I hope will be many joint parties! I keep telling people that one of the reasons I needed a house this big is so that as my kids grow and become teens, I can have them and their friends over here all the time, and not have to worry about where they are. So each of my five kids got to pick two friends to invite.

This morning, to get ready for the party, the kids had some cleaning up to do! (Hey, their party, their work!) Then we jumped in the car with our "party money" and set out for WalMart for lunch and munchies. Pizza...check. Chips...check. Licorice...Granola Bars...Cookies...Check, check, check. All set...we head home and get all the food set up.

At about 10:45, I went out and inflated our slide to get it ready. In addition to the few holes I'd already patched, I noticed a new one. I deflated the slide and put a patch on it, but then it's supposed to set up for about an hour before you use it. Okay, we're flexible! We'll start with lunch!

My kids all lined up on the porch at 10:50 to wait for friends. It was 11:10 before anyone showed! They were all getting pretty nervous! In the end, Tiana showed up for Sydney, McKenna came for Megan, Thomas came for Tory, Rhett came for Spencer, and BOTH Michael's friends came...Jake AND Benny. (But Jake is really Spencer AND Michael's friend!) Whew! What a crew!

Inside we go to whip up some frozen pizzas and fill ourselves with junk food! While waiting for pizza, the little boys were all...well, boys. :D There was much running, yelling, wrestling, and chasing. Thomas and Tory were a little above that normal boy clamor. They spent their time tormenting the girls, but the girls were too cool for such immature behavior...they headed downstairs. Probably to talk about how lame boys are.

Food's ready, so I made all the kids and take the food outside. Then plates were loaded and sugar consumed. The kids loved the slide. It was a huge hit. (Although from the way it was sagging, I'm pretty sure we've got a few more holes!...but I think that makes it more fun to watch...As the kids climb the stairs side of the inflatable slide and they reach the top, they've got to get both their legs over to the slide side before the whole thing slowly loses air. It's hilarious, and the bigger the kids get the harder I laugh! Hee-hee!) There were face plants and somersaults, and lots of splashing!

Then everyone was too cold. Except for Rhett...he was still going after everyone else had given up and gone in to change into something dryer. Clouds were rolling in, and they were dark ones. Then I heard thunder. In honor of my mother-in-law, I herded all the small children inside so that we would be safe from the lightening. :D

All changed and dry, we began the process of getting 11 kids to agree on a movie. Ten minutes later, I gave up. We just put one on that NOBODY wanted...problem solved. The older kids...and Michael...were snugly wrapped up in blankets actually watching "Monsters -vs- Aliens". The others...Jake, Benny, Rhett, and Spencer were, from the sounds of it, pretending to be some kind of flesh eating dinosaurs. Again, there is much running/yelling/growling...and giggling. I love that sound! (Yes, even when it is preceded by all the screaming and running!)

What do you know, the sun is back out! So at 3:15, all the kids put on their soaked suits, and we reinflated the droopy slide. Then we played in the water again until it was time for the mom's to come. (Thanks, Becky and ReNae for driving all the way out here! I'm so glad the boys got to come!)

Party...Success! I'd say all in all, a good time was had by all. And I'd do it again! It was a great way to celebrate the short summer of the year round school student! (Their first day of school is July 26th! That's only 3 weeks off! We definitely have to maximize every day we get!)