This year, Derek was thinking of doing something different. Different from Chuck E Cheese? No arguments from me! He was remembering some ideas that some of his friends had for parties he's been to, and he likes the ones where basically you have some friends over and play games (sports). It seemed easy enough for me -- let them choose what to play next, and all I have to do is keep an eye on everyone to make sure it all goes well.
Because of when Derek's birthday is during the year, we decided that it would be warmer out if we waited about a month or so. Derek is not attached to having his party as close to his birthday as possible. He was more interested in having a good time when his friends came over. So we wound up having the party about 5 weeks after his birthday.
We have a good-sized backyard for wiffle ball, soccer, tag, football, bocce, croquet, and whatever else they want to do back there. And there's a basketball hoop in the driveway, and we have chalk if we wanted to make a 4-Square court or something. The only challenge was -- What if it rains? So we decided I could move my car out of the garage, and they could play board games, and even 4-Square in there. Luckily, we had a good day, and they were outside the whole time.
They started in the driveway with some basketball. Not one of Derek's better games, but he didn't care. I sat on the lawn and kept an eye on things (and made sure the drinks were well stocked). Then out back for some wiffle ball. I sat on the deck and kept an eye on things (and made sure the drinks were well stocked). Then they took a break for some pizza, and we then did presents so that their food could at least attempt to settle before they started running around again. Derek got a Slip n Slide, a big super soaker gun, and a couple of gift cards.
Then they wanted to fill up the super soaker and play... ummm... I guess you could call it Squirt Gun Tag. When you get squirted, you get the gun and you're It. And somehow you were allowed to use a base from wiffle ball as a shield (gotta love backyard rules!). I sat on the deck and kept an eye on things. They wanted to set up the Slip n Slide and slide in their shorts, but no one had a change of clothes (well, other than Derek), and it just wasn't quite warm enough. So that didn't happen.
We took another break, for cake this time. Derek had requested an R2-D2 cake, and once again Grandma came through. After cake it wasn't much longer before the kids were going to be picked up. (I made the parents leave a cell number -- I told them it was "just in case" and once they gave it to me I told them it was just in case they thought they could try to "forget" to pick up their kids!) The kids got out the football for just a bit.
Thankfully, all the kids were picked up on time (well, close enough anyway). Derek had a great time playing with his friends. And they all seemed to have fun, too. A few days later after school, it WAS warm enough for the Slip n Slide. Derek liked to practice his baseball slide.
