Luckily, the kids were excited about doing their parties at the same time and wanted to do the same stuff, maybe I just really sold them on the ideas. In addition, over half of the kids that came for Christian were a brother or sister of a girl that came for Katie's party, to make it easy we did it together and they loved planning it. We had a water game themed party since it starts getting hot in April. We were really lucky as the weather was a little unpredictable that week. I was praying that we wouldn't fry and it wouldn't get cold and rain. We didn't get either of those, although it was really windy. But I would take that any day over the other options.
Katie wanted to play the game to see who could pop their balloons the fastest and here the kids were getting ready. The team that got them all popped first won. And if their balloon blew away, they had to chase it down and pop it. Just additional excitement added. They had a dead tie and it ended in laughter. 
Then we played water balloon volleyball. Thanks to my friend Melanie who not only brought her badminton net, but also helped me fill and tie MANY water balloons for the day. She also became my camera woman...didn't she do fabulous? The kids loved it, even if they hardly volleyed. It was really about getting wet. 
We had a water balloon toss...the oldest boys won, of course...
We had to have a water balloon fight and the kids loved it. I bought 1000 balloons. We still have at least half left. I think we will have to fill some up in July and do it again here with the neighbors.
The balloons went fast...
Then they played cold potato, which you get a water balloon, poke a few holes and you don't want it to pop or have it empty when it gets passed to you. The kids had a lot of fun. I popped a few on myself as I was poking them. It was great!
They were loving it...
The pinata! I cannot tell you how excited Katie and Christian were that they had a pinata. This was one huge pinata too. They helped fill the pinata in the morning which was a huge help!
Just to be destroyed...
In the end, by this guy...Christian's favorite babysitter. Isn't that cool that he came? Christian really wanted him to come and this 14 year old boy did. He was great. And he helped out too when we needed it. Like putting up streamers because he could do it without a ladder...unlike me.
Christian picked out an Iron Man cake. Hey, I have my limits while moving. Making the cakes...not happening so much. Albertson's was great!
Katie is growing up. No pink on this cake allowed. Indigo blue was wanted and purple was allowed to be the accent color.
Can you see how windy it was? But it was warm...so it was okay.
Christian's friends...one final picture. Memories are what we can take with us and that is what we made. His two best buddies Kristin and Reagan in the center with him.
Here is my little shy girl with all of her friends. It was the end, and I nearly started crying. I had to hold it together as I hoped that she would make friends quickly this time around and that she would be able to keep in touch with these special friends that she loves! I didn't know 9 years ago that my heart could ache that much for another person. (She is really doing well though, I have been happily surprised! And she is keeping in touch.)
A few more pictures as people were leaving. She loves them all, but just a few cute pictures that I wanted to comment on. Katie has proclaimed Maya as the funniest person she knows. They played basketball together at recess and were in class with each other every year of school.
Emily, her good friend that she met in Girl Scouts. I didn't want to do it at first when we moved to Arizona. It had been Mike's idea. They were never in the same class at school, so I don't think they would have ever met without Girl Scouts. I hate to think of the friendships we would have missed if we hadn't done it!
What can I say...look at that face. Christian got Luke and Leia action figures and is ready to play Star Wars with Kristin when they come to visit. She is Leia on the playground, people. Don't mess with her. She has been such a cute friend!
And my two DEAR friends, Melanie and Cindy...I could not have done this party without them. They volunteered to stay through the whole thing and helped me wrangle the kids and keep me organized and didn't mind me giving directions and usually anticipated what I or Mike needed before that. Thanks for helping me! You rock.
Thanks also to Terrie and Sonja who both "lent" their bathrooms to us for the party, as this park didn't have any. It would have been disastrous without that. You can't put a price on that!
Since I haven't found another place to put this, we have also had other dear friends that during our last days in town fed us, offered to help us pack and clean, and many who wanted to help in some way. What a wonderful place we called home for three years. All of my friends truly made it that and we love and miss you. Thank you for everything!
In the end, the kids had a great time celebrating while also getting closure to a wonderful chapter in their lives. They are adjusting well to the changes but are eager to see their friends again someday! Come visit...we have room!
The balloons went fast...Then they played cold potato, which you get a water balloon, poke a few holes and you don't want it to pop or have it empty when it gets passed to you. The kids had a lot of fun. I popped a few on myself as I was poking them. It was great! They were loving it...I think their favorite game was splash tag. We had 4 sponges...there should have been more...and if you got hit, you were it. It was a great game.
They played this while we set up for the pinata and cake and ice cream. When everything was over, many went back out and played this until their parents arrived. Whoever said that tag was out of fashion? Okay, I never heard anyone say that either...just checking. :)
The pinata! I cannot tell you how excited Katie and Christian were that they had a pinata. This was one huge pinata too. They helped fill the pinata in the morning which was a huge help!
Just to be destroyed...
In the end, by this guy...Christian's favorite babysitter. Isn't that cool that he came? Christian really wanted him to come and this 14 year old boy did. He was great. And he helped out too when we needed it. Like putting up streamers because he could do it without a ladder...unlike me.
Christian picked out an Iron Man cake. Hey, I have my limits while moving. Making the cakes...not happening so much. Albertson's was great!
Katie is growing up. No pink on this cake allowed. Indigo blue was wanted and purple was allowed to be the accent color.
Can you see how windy it was? But it was warm...so it was okay.
Christian's friends...one final picture. Memories are what we can take with us and that is what we made. His two best buddies Kristin and Reagan in the center with him.
Here is my little shy girl with all of her friends. It was the end, and I nearly started crying. I had to hold it together as I hoped that she would make friends quickly this time around and that she would be able to keep in touch with these special friends that she loves! I didn't know 9 years ago that my heart could ache that much for another person. (She is really doing well though, I have been happily surprised! And she is keeping in touch.)
A few more pictures as people were leaving. She loves them all, but just a few cute pictures that I wanted to comment on. Katie has proclaimed Maya as the funniest person she knows. They played basketball together at recess and were in class with each other every year of school.
Emily, her good friend that she met in Girl Scouts. I didn't want to do it at first when we moved to Arizona. It had been Mike's idea. They were never in the same class at school, so I don't think they would have ever met without Girl Scouts. I hate to think of the friendships we would have missed if we hadn't done it!
What can I say...look at that face. Christian got Luke and Leia action figures and is ready to play Star Wars with Kristin when they come to visit. She is Leia on the playground, people. Don't mess with her. She has been such a cute friend!
And my two DEAR friends, Melanie and Cindy...I could not have done this party without them. They volunteered to stay through the whole thing and helped me wrangle the kids and keep me organized and didn't mind me giving directions and usually anticipated what I or Mike needed before that. Thanks for helping me! You rock.
Thanks also to Terrie and Sonja who both "lent" their bathrooms to us for the party, as this park didn't have any. It would have been disastrous without that. You can't put a price on that! Since I haven't found another place to put this, we have also had other dear friends that during our last days in town fed us, offered to help us pack and clean, and many who wanted to help in some way. What a wonderful place we called home for three years. All of my friends truly made it that and we love and miss you. Thank you for everything!
In the end, the kids had a great time celebrating while also getting closure to a wonderful chapter in their lives. They are adjusting well to the changes but are eager to see their friends again someday! Come visit...we have room!
No comments:
Post a Comment