A Minecraft Sleepover Party

 Getting ready for a party for 6 eight year old boys has a very different feel than planning for 40-some children and adults.  Almost relaxing.  I wasn't even going to do a theme or decorations but I decided at the eleventh hour to theme it up a little.  

Just because the eight year olds don't care, doesn't mean I can't.  

Printed up some minecraft blocks and designed some banner letters and got a little bit of crepe paper and voila! 

Quite possibly the ugliest color scheme ever. But crepe paper makes everything festive. Also I was very proud of myself for letting the children take over the placement of the wall decor.  It's not easy for me to let go with decorating tasks...

A horrible picture of the goody bags.

Enderman returns for another night of ugly cake decoration.  I do like the square plates to represent the pixels...

 When the boys arrived, they were quickly banished to the yard.  What followed was an hour of this:

 (with a little of this-- a posed re-creation of a shot from 5 years ago...)

This boy!  He's EIGHT years old.  He is so tall, so strong, so full of attitude-- yet still so full of hugs.  I sure do love him.

With the exception of the balloon creepers, who were popped in a matter of seconds, there were no injuries!  Miraculous.  They're good kids.  

Feeding the hungry troops. Pre-dinner snacks can be laid back for 6 boys (a bowl of popcorn and a pitcher of water on the patio table), and dinner itself-- all Jack's choice-- was pretty simple too.

Pizza and Doritos with some Coke on the side.  Dinner of champions. 

Makes Jack look like this:

 Finally, finally, finally -- the much awaited video games begin.

The boys actually did a pretty amazing job playing together.  Despite much (very vocal) arguing and yelling and carrying on, there was no real conflict and some real collaboration and conversation that emerged.  Loudly.

Did I mention that having 6 eight year olds in your house is really LOUD?

Cake and Present time...

Checking out the loot.

I have no idea what was so funny about the card Finn made for Jack-- but they were losing it.  Little boy giggles are the best. 

Jack spent most of the morning putting this together.  He's not been interested in Legos in the least for quite a while.   But Minecraft Legos... that's another story!


Getting ready for bed....Pokemon cards and Nerf guns and 6 boys in one room...

With the help of one private room and one "blanket tent" to make it darker in one area of the room, we had all of them tucked in and asleep by 11:00.  Not too bad, really...

Morning-after Minecraft.  A kinder, gentler game in the morning.  The troops were up at 7 and fed by 8 and thoroughly enjoyed playing on screens without restriction until their pickup by 10.



I think they all had fun.

Now, excuse me while I get a nap.