Calvin's army party

  We had Calvin's 6th birthday party over the weekend and what an epic one at that!  We had been working the week previous outside to make it look nice out there.  Scrubbing the deck, weeding the garden beds, repotting plants, etc.  We never planned to be inside when we were thinking about this party, but as the weekend got closer, I realized I had to make some changes to my activities.  Last week, I did some major cleaning inside as it looked like we would staying in.  Lots of pics and captions to follow...

  I was a bit nervous about the theme, but it came together nicely.  These cupcakes were my favorite!  To look at AND eat...

 An obstacle course/boot camp...all in our garage.  Tried to hide all of our junk.  :)

   Had TOO much fun with my friend's metal stamping kit.

   We did homemade pizza for dinner.  Mike had a whole set-up and rocked the oven!

   AND THEN THE POWER WENT OUT.  It was just after 6 p.m.  Thankfully, the last pizzas were in the oven and the pizza stones carried them through.  I busted out my wedding centerpieces (yes, I still have them) and lots of floating candles.  And the party started!!!!!!  When I said epic, this is why.  We will never forget this party.

 Everyone pitched in to help with their phones as lights.  The dog tags got into a mangled tangled mess.

  Most of my pictures are BLURRY!  Obvs.  My camera just couldn't focus.  If there was light, you can thank multiple parents holding up their phones.  :)

   We still did the obstacle course.  The lights being off gave the kids license to be LOUD.  It was SO loud, but I couldn't describe it anything different than so fun.  Running through a ladder, swinging over obstacles, air squats, climbing through ropes, burpees, it was all a part of it.

 We finished singing and presents and it felt like it was 10:00 at night because it was so dark for so long.  Well, it was 7:15.  So, large iPad to the rescue with a movie!

   And the adults sat at the big table.  For some reason this was about as good as it got.

   Unless someone had their phone shining on us, of course.  :)

  I am so thankful to our peeps who just hung out in our dark house.  I literally thought everyone was going to get up and leave.  But instead they joined in the chaos and helped out big time!  The power finally came back on at 8:30.  Everyone started cheering.  It was kinda weird being able to see everyone's faces again.  I never would have wanted the power to go off, but it seriously made the party so fun!

  I kinda laughed later at all of the work I put into decorating our garage, making the outside look nice, dusting, and vacuuming under things so people wouldn't see the mess.  At least it is still clean. :)

  We have continued to have rain and there was no school today which is a perfect combo for him getting to play with all of his new things.  We've been getting lots of random hugs and kisses from Calvin which means he is full.  And I'm so glad, because that's what birthday parties are all about.