Last
weekend we had an epic going away party for one of The Transporter's
friends, The Boy From Spain. (I wrote about him in “A Day in theLife”.) We started at 2 pm with outdoor games set up. There were a
few snags in this endeavor as the volleyball net was missing the
bottom half of the poles, so it was more of a tennis net, a foot off
the ground. No matter, the party was full of soccer players, so they
played volley-soccer, which is volleyball, using your feet and a
soccer ball. Looked like fun.
The
croquet set of undetermined age and origin had only two wickets, but
all the mallets, and both poles. I had OYT and SMK's two middle kids
(SMK and I co-hosted this impromptu, as in planned three days in
advance, event.) They used some sticks they found and set up sort of
an obstacle course in the former garden, now seeded, and growing an
amazing crop of bindweed.
It
was fun having new teenagers around whom I hadn't met before,
especially GIRL teenagers. They were nice kids and mostly sat in a
circle chatting and laughing while the younger kids played the weird
games. At one point though, the older soccer players couldn't resist
the “tennis” court and joined that game.
Lots
of food was consumed, people just stayed here, and I'm glad we had
the main course in a crock-pot because some had lunch and later
dinner. Dessert was a hit. Don't laugh (because they already did)
but I have a Pampered Chef ice-cream sandwich maker. Basically, it
holds the cookies and ice-cream in place while you smush it down into
a size that will sorta fit in your mouth. They had a blast playing
with it, and several kids said to me, “Good call on the dessert.
Much better than the cakes with greasy frosting.” Win! So I was
vindicated in my kitchen gadget choices. I get made fun of because I
have an entire closet full of unusual kitchen toys that don't fit in
my kitchen. I'm the cooking show addict, remember? Need lots of
toys.
As
it got dusk, the kids wanted to have a bonfire. We do have a legal,
fire department approved pit. (Yeah, a former “well-meaning”
neighbor called the fire department on us. They said we were, “Well
on our way to a legal fire pit. Just put down one more layer of
bricks and you're good.”) The kids were even willing to pull all
the weeds out from in and around it. SMK ran to the store for s'mores
supplies. So the party went on. I love it when that happens.
(none of the teens involved cared to be identified...though I think you're pretty much going to be able to figure it out being as how I'm a Scandinavian chick, fair skinned and blond...my kids are easily distinguished from SMK's, and The Boy From Spain looks...Spanish...)
By
now it's time for SMK's little ones to go to bed, all sugared up and
soaked. (As you saw in the pictures, OYT got out his arsenal of Super
Soaker Nerf weapons and there was a massive battle...) The Boy From
Spain, SoccerBoy, SMK, and I continued to sit by the fire, along with
the guest of honor's host dad. (Who had talked about leaving around
5 pm, but was still there at 11:00.) I can sit by a fire for hours
upon hours, and I think we would have done so if it hadn't have been
for me needing to take The Transporter to the ER. He'd gotten
something in his eye, and even the professional eye-wash kit couldn't
get it out. Not exactly my choice of ways to end the party, and if
you're keeping count, my second Saturday night going to the ER...
So good bye, dear friend. Travel well, good luck with your life, and if you're ever in the neighborhood, you know you don't need to knock.
P.S
Turns out The Transporter had a hair in his eye and it had scratched the heck out
of his cornea. He can see again, and has finished all his
antibiotics.
