part 2

 More Nerf wars. The kids had so much fun with the Nerf guns that they kept going back to them after each event. I planned the party from 2:00-4:00 so, at 4:00 Sophia and Alex had parents come get them. Before they left though I took a group photo of everyone with and without their masks on. Connor, Kaiden, Raheem, Landry, Isaiah, Alex, Sophia, Declan (Declan's dad, Sean and little sister, Maylee), Ryan (John and Laura), (Grandma and Grandpa), and (Jason and I).  Then we opened gifts.  I bought dinosaur eggs, which are  like a clay with a plastic dinosaur inside.  The idea was to hide the eggs in the sand box and the kids would dig them up, but since it rained I just handed them out instead.  That also meant they had to chisel away at them inside, but we used plates to collect the mess. The kids loved chiseling away and finding their prize inside. After they dug their dinosaur out Jason had a fact sheet with facts about each dinosaur he would read. Then the kids played with some of the gifts and had another Nerf war. Raheem, Landry, Isaiah and Ryan stayed for dinner. We had Kaiden's favorite- cheese burgers, which was a hit with all the kids. Landry and Isaiah went home.  Raheem and Ryan spent the night. Connor and Raheem played with Lego's.  Every time Raheem spends the night he brings over his chest of Lego pieces and they build something. Connor and Raheem are so much alike. They are both completely content spending hours building with Lego's and trading pieces. Ryan and Kaiden played Nerf and then switch together. Then all 4 boys had a Laser Tag game with his new Laser guns. Piper of course camped out with them in the play room and loved snuggling up to each of the boys during the night.

Kaiden's 7th birthday party- part 1

 Kaiden wanted chocolate cupcakes so, we made them together.  Kaiden decorated some and I decorated the rest.  The light green sprinkles are in the shape of dinosaurs.  I had planned his party to be a backyard party originally since the weather has been warm and sunny, but forecast said it would be cold and rainy all day and they were right.  We started the party off with playing in the game room, which turned into a Nerf war.  Then we moved upstairs for a "dinosaur" egg hunt.  I hid 76 Easter eggs on the main floor and the kids had to find them.  After that they decorated paper spinners.  You hold each end of the twine and twirl the circular disk and then when you pull the twine tight the disk spins and makes your design look neat.  It reminds me of a yo-yo except horizontal.  Each kid also got to pick out a felt dinosaur mask to wear.  Then they all returned to the game room for another Nerf war.  Isaiah and Declan had fun playing in the dress up box.  Next was pin the tail on the dinosaur.  Jason gave each of the kids a good spin before setting them free.  Raheem's tail was the closest.  After everyone had a chance we had 2 extra tails left and Kaiden wanted to go again... so he went 2 more times.  Instead of doing a full BBQ this year, I made snack foods. I had a nacho cheese dip, artichoke dip, chips, fruit and veggie tray, strawberry fruit dip, cinnamon crisps, crab salad and drinks. The dips were sooo good!  It worked out great since the kids and adults could snack and graze.  Then we had cupcakes and cups of either strawberry swirl or fudge swirl ice cream.