Summer Fun Means Water ... Lots of It

Summer birthdays usually mean a swim party.  I have two children with summer birthdays which means a joint party (the dates are just 5 days apart) for their birthdays.  They aren't always thrilled, but I am not the mom for nothing.  I happen to be a pretty good sweet talker too.  So one child wants a swim party as does second child who forgot for a minute she cannot swim well and changes her mind upon remembering.  I have no desire to throw two parties so ask - read strongly encourage - about a water party in our yard.  I talk it up, and get unanimous agreement.  Now I have to deliver.

Step One was to create the highlight of the party - a kid wash.  I got the idea off the Family Fun site after a google search.  The whole project came together in about 4-5 hours and that includes shopping.  It was so worth making it for my kiddos.  See the smiles?

Okay, so they aren't looking at the camera.  Trust me - they loved it.  It was a hit at the party too almost as much as the water dodge ball.  What is that?  I made sponge balls - enough for everyone to have one plus a couple of extras.  I had four 5 gallon buckets filled with water and placed at the four corners of the dodge ball area.  On go, the party goers soaked their sponge balls in water and threw.   I got out of there fast.

The funniest part of the party was during set up the night before.  We had been camping earlier.  There are not always restrooms or clean restrooms available so Eric was introduced to peeing on a tree by his dad.  Unfortunately, peeing on a tree equated to just peeing outside to Eric.  As I was setting up for the party my helpers abandoned me to try out the dodge ball game.  A time out was called because Eric had to pee.  It is a good thing we have understanding neighbors who find my kids hysterical.  I am watching Eric and listening to the shocked hollers from siblings about indecency.  Then perhaps Eric and I are connected some way, I knew what was going to happen before it did.  It happened in slow motion as I saw my premonition play out.

Eric is answering nature's call when he glances down and then over at older brother Jonathan.  Before I could shout "NO!" Eric took aim.  Jonathan moved faster than I had seen him move in a while.  It was hard to scold Eric about peeing on siblings when I cannot catch my breath because I am laughing so hard.  Jonathan was not amused.  He was even less amused when Eric nailed him with a wet sponge in dodge ball, and it looked like Jonathan missed answering nature's call.