Bday weekend

Many have asked for photos of my nephew's Birthday weekend - which was quite fun. Tiring but certainly fun, and Daniel had a blast which was the most important thing.

The birthday part include 15 kids (5th graders) at my Sister's house in NY. My sister, a woman who is like Martha Stewart (without a criminal record) always manages to come up with really creative parties. This year the party entailed making 15 cardboard-box cars - one for each child to decorate and customize to their liking. Once the cars were completed, the kids got to sit in them at the "drive-in" to watch a double feature.

Of course, no drive-in visit would be complete without the concession stand, so there was one of those too! I am telling you, my sister goes ALL OUT for this sort of thing.

FRIDAY night was the family birthday party complete with dessert, pinata, and a lot of playing a new toy, the "Wii" (pronounced wee).

Pinata preparation

Meghan takes a turn at the Pinata
After the big pinata break, all the kids (big and small) dove in for the candy.

Here are the big kids playing tennis on the Wii.

A Wii tennis tournament in the wee hours of the night.

SATURDAY was a little rainy so Daniel's afternoon game got canceled which gave us the much needed time to take care of last minute details, like painting the cars before all the kids arrived.

15 cardboard "cars" waiting for their glossy paint job

Daniel had a firetruck which he painted in a fluorescent yellow-green.
The cars waiting for their new drivers...and customization!
The mad scramble to get a car, and afterward take it to the stations including:

Making an air freshener
Adding tires
Adding a removable spotlight
Painting a grill on the engine
Making & adding side mirrors
Adding headlights
Exterior customization (stickers, etc)

Making an air freshener to hang in the car

Adding Tires

Adding a "grill" to the front of the car.
Car with headlights and side mirrors...but it looks like a tire has come off in the process.
Some "customized" cars.....the pink feather boa makes a colorful addition don't you think?
Putting the petal to the metal.....a real road race. Some of the cars did well, and others didn't make out so well with tires flying off and side mirrors dropping to the ground.

After a "hard day's work" at the custom car shop, all the kids got "Daniel Dollars" to use at the drive-in concession stand later that night.

After the race, the cars parked at the drive-in while Daniel opened gifts from his friends.
Opening gifts - and thanking everyone for coming over. (Daniel had impeccable manners)
Making sure the concession stand is set up before the movie starts. The concession stand served: pizza, popcorn, nachos, hot dogs, candy, and soda.
Quite a spread!
But no birthday party would be complete without cake! So first the birthday song and then off to the movies!
All the kids are sitting in their cars watching the movie projected on the living room wall.

As 10 PM rolled around, the parents popped in and took kids home. And then, as the lights came on, the carnage was revealed.

After the clean-up I have a little more respect for those who clean up movie theaters. I am so glad that I am one of those people who throws out my trash at the theater...I didn't used to be. Eeew. I will forever clean up after myself from this day forward.

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY DANIEL!!!!!!!!!!