Birthday fun!

Saturday, Oct 29 2012, was one busy and FUN day for our family.  We started out at 8 am for Nick's 9 am football game.  The Bears were defeated that morning, but not because they didn't try or play hard.  Nick made his first touchdown...and the only touchdown of the game for The Bears.  Way to go Nick!

Lauren's gymnastics started promptly at 10 am.  Ryan and Nick came directly from the fball game to gymnastics so I could run to the concession stand at the baseball field to volunteer from 10 - 12 noon (yes, I was late).  At 12 noon, Nick had a baseball game...and it must be noted that to date, Able's Forces remains undefeated this Fall season!  Nick played a great game. 

Then the fun really began....I will apologize now.  I did not take any pictures this entire day.  I must also say that I am the only picture taker in this family, so if Mama is busy, I have no pictures to post.

3 pm kicked off Nick and Lauren's birthday party at Midway Roller Rama Skating Rink!  We had about 25 kids and a skating good time.  In 2 hours, we ate pizza, roller skated, played roller skating limbo, played the roller skating dice game, enjoyed glow sticks and finger flashlights from goody bags, ate 2 cookie cakes (homemade by me!), and played arcades.  No one broke any bones and I know I saw dozens of kids wiping out on those tricky skates. 

After the birthday party, we loaded up 7 kids in our cars along with all the unopened birthday presents (we didn't have enough time to open at the skating rink) and drove home.  Nick and Lauren quickly tore into all their gifts and my living room was ransacked with new legos, barbie dolls, stickers, nerf guns, etc...  The kids played football, guns, cash register, swings, amongst other things for hours.  I had nerf bullets flying through my house all evening.  And it was great. The kids had a blast. 

Somewhere in the middle of the kid storm I was able to make a enormous pot of chili to feed an army...complete with 4 pounds of sausage and hamburger, black/kidney/garbanza beans, onion and green peppers.  Ryan thought I was crazy, but I knew I had a goal and a plan to meet.

Ryan got all 7 kids settled in the movie room with dozens of pillows, sleeping bags and blankets.  I made 8 bags of popcorn, set out a bowl of doritos, and another dozen water bottles.  Then we all nestled in for the Avengers movie.  One by one the kids started dropping into dreamland...and by 11 pm we called it a night. 

Another dual birthday party success!