McNeil Menage: Ethan's 10th Birthday Party

Ethan decided that he wanted to have a Nerf War for his 10th birthday party. Even though is birthday isn't until December 6th, one of his best friends is moving to Texas before that. So the party had to happen before the move.

We began dumpster diving for boxes, calling Lowe's and Sears to ask for appliance boxes and looking for deals on Nerf gear. It really was a relatively easy party to throw. Once we got everything set up, I think the boys could have entertained themselves for days!

All I care about is that I got a

"Mom, I'm so glad I have a mom like you! You're the best!"

Mission Accomplished!!!

The Invitations

When the boys arrived, they got a shirt to pull on, clear mirrored safety glasses, a Jolt Nerf gun, and a handful of darts to put in the pocket on the front of the shirts.

Best Friends

I got youth large shirts for everyone in gray and blue. I printed a Nerf war badge that I designedon iron-on paper and ironed it on the front of the shirts. Then I cut up a black laundry bag and used the mesh fabric to sew a pocket on the front of each shirt.

I came up with my own version of a target practice area from looking at several other blogs about Nerf Wars. (The idea for the built-in dart-return slot came from http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-throw-a-Nerf-Gun-Birthday-Party/step3/Fun-Nerf-Target/)

We cut lots of appliance boxes in half diagonally to make barricades and cut little flap windows and slots in them for spying.

Game on!

There was a refrigerator box turned on it's side at each end of the gym for the boys to use as headquarters. I cut several windows in the front, taped a piece of a plastic table cloth to the open end, and cut a trap door in the top that they could stand up through.

Big Sis had fun too!

I thought they were making plans for the next round, but when I walked over to take this picture they all had their hands in the middle, and they were praying before the game, "that they would all play well and have a good time, and that everyone would stay safe."I don't know who initiated that, but it was pretty cool to see!