N.I.N.E.

Spencer is 9 today.  I might be a little sad about it.  I remember being 9.  How is it that my SECOND OLDEST CHILD IS NINE???  Sometimes I wish I could push pause and keep my kids right where they are at right now!  We had a friend party this past Saturday and we had a blast with 13 (yes THIRTEEN!) fantastic 8 and 9 year old boys.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE our neighborhood and love that it is filled with so many friends my kid's ages.  

Spencer is our natural born competitor and decided on an Olympic party.

I cheated on his cake and had the grocery store make doughnuts in the Olympic colors for the rings!

The "Olympic Stadium"

Isn't iron on vinyl the best!!  Spencer thought his shirt was fabulous!

When the boys arrived, we had them choose a number and a country to put on their "bib".  Then we did a torch relay game with some plastic torches that I found at the party store.  Each boy had to catch the ball in their torch and then pass it down the line.

Then we did a torch "Smash" with ice cream cones on their heads.  Spencer was the last one standing.

We did the long jump

A sprint.

A relay race with a baton pass

A discus throw

A decathalon (obstacle course)

The shot put

Archery
We didn't have time for the triple jump and the tug of war--maybe next time.  

 After all the events, each boy got to make a bow out of PVC pipe to take home.  (Thank you Grandma Foster for letting us borrow the cousin jambor project!)

We had cake, doughnuts, ice-cream and gatorade.  This is the only picture we got of him blowing out his candles.  Please ignore how nasty I look!!!

 We opened presents.  All of the boys said happy birthday in crazy voices and Spencer had to guess who it was.

It was a beyond fun party and the 2 hours flew by.  There was no way we could have done it without the help of my mom and my sister Maren.  They happened to be in town and it was definitely a 4 adult party!!!  Each of the boys got a real arrow, target and archery rules to take home.  My original plan was to make arrow out of dowels and styrofoam but Spencer informed me that was lame.  It turned out the arrow were a great party favor--we wouldn't give them to the boys until a parent was there though--13 boys loose with bow and arrows made me a little nervous!!

 Today is Spencer's actual birthday and he woke up to a maze in the basement.  

He got a candle in his bacon surrounded breakfast--his favorite!

He requested Little Ceasar's for dinner.  

After dinner we opened presents.  He was pretty specific in what he wanted and knew exactly what the boxes were shaped like, so I wrapped up empty shoe boxes with notes telling him to look under my bed or close his eyes, so that he would be surprised.

The Avenger's Lego set was a hit.   

But perhaps the greatest moment EVER was when he had his eyes closed and Chris walked out with a real bow and arrow (super basic Scout Shop bow and arrow but to him, it was like the best one ever created).  It was like a moment out of the Christmas Story when Ralphie got his Red Rider BB gun (minus the bunny footed pajamas).  Spencer hugged Chris for what seemed like FOREVER.  So cute!!

I don't know if it's possible for him to look older.    I think he looks so handsome and grown up here!!

(I feel like I should say "and may the odds be ever in your favor here :) )

 And instead of a cake tonight, he got a doughnut tower.  Happy 9th S-Dog.  We love you!