Pirate Birthday

Yesterday was Stephen's 6th birthday. He requested an "army man" birthday, but instead got a full day of pirate fun. We invited his cousin Shelby over for the day as well as a sleepover. Mauri was babysitting a little girl, so she joined in the fun too. When we counted them all up...there were 9 kids 8 years old and younger. We were trying to decide if it was a circus, zoo or just a day care.

The day started with the kids playing while I decorated the birthday cake. Here's what the finished product looked like. Cormac helped me "undecorate" by eating the first three letters of Stephen's name. We teased Stephen by calling him "Phen". I don't think he thought it was as funny as we did.

Then we started some pirate school. We worked on a lapbook about pirates. They learned about things that start with 'P', colors, and played a game about pirate terms (swab the deck, walk the plank). Everyone picked pirate names and wore bandanas.

Captain Stephen, Shivery Timbery Shelby, Crazy Cormac, Fearsome Loman working on their own pirate flags.

(and I was Whip Crackin' Karen)

Here we are feeding parrots in our pirate terms game.

After some school work, lunch and some more playing, we decorated for the birthday party. The kids played a pirate version of pin the tail on the donkey. Fearsome Loman won the game. Here's a few pictures...

Stephen's turn and then Fearsome Loman takes first

Don't you love Blase's eyes??

Then we had Pizza Hut pizza and cake with all the Bestgen aunts, uncles and cousins who live in the area. After that most of the kids and a few adults hurried our way to the movie theater to watch Monsters v. Aliens with Stephen's Aunt Courtney and our friends Sharon and Dyson. Then home again for more cake and ice cream and BED!! When Stephen came out of the movie he said it was the best birthday he had ever had. I'm beginning to think its the best birthday any of us ever had. He's one lucky "Phen"!

Today we finished up our pirate lapbook. They had a great time and loved being pirates. We spend some time teaching them that pirates were not nice people, but we were going to be pirates that ARE nice. I have to admit that I had just as much fun, if not more fun than the kids. Oh...and I have to thank Mom and all the aunts (plus Katie) who helped us with the lapbook.

Now, I'm off to the day spa and an evening out with my bestest friend Lori.....ahhhhh....