12th Birthday Fun

Bobby is 12.  Next year he will be a teenager!!! Doesn't even seem possible.  However, it happened, so we HAD to celebrate!!

He got an early gift last weekend, we were excited, we knew that he was going to love it.  He opened the gift immediately and couldn't wait for Daddy to get it assembled.

Well, that was the last time that he sat on it, once in the garage.  He has zero interest in his new riding toy.  Oh well!!

On his actual birthday, we celebrated at home with a small family party.

Time to blow out the candles!!

We let him have his family gifts instead of waiting for his upcoming party.

He opened them pretty well, however after he would open one, he wanted to go outside and I would prompt him back to open the next one.

New shoes, swim trunks.....ready for summer.

What's in the big bag from Grandma????  A car wash kit of course!!!

Bobby couldn't wait, so we let him go outside and begin washing.  The old bucket was already outside, so he used it.

Last year, one of Bobby's buddies/classmates told everyone that he was going to Bobby's house for his birthday party, causing me to scramble and throw together a party.....which turned out to be a huge success.  I decided to invite the same couple of kids and have similar fun outdoor activities for this year's birthday.

After I invited the guests, the forecast changed from sunny to rainy with thunderstorms.  GREAT!  I went ahead and decorated inside and mentally prepared for a house full of boys!!

When I was planning a menu, Bob said to me, "what is the one food that they will all eat?"  Umm, when you are talking about a group of kids on the spectrum, there is not one food!!!  They are all so picky.  I decided on pizza and french fries and all of the kids were happy.

As soon as the guests arrived, they all sat down to eat because it was lunch time.  Something amazing happened......all of the boys sat down at the kitchen table together and ate.  They sat together wonderfully and got their own seconds!!!!!!!  The adults all ended up sitting in the dining room to eat and left the kids in the kitchen.  I am still in shock.  Of course I had to grab my camera and second amazing thing happened....the ALL looked at the camera!!!!!  Thank you boys!!

After the kids finished eating, the electronics came out.  We let them chill while the adults finished eating.

When everyone was finished eating, we got the kids outside for a silly string battle!!!!!  The pictures speak for themselves.....30 cans of silly sting later..................

Our poor driveway!!!!!!

I bought something else to add to the mess and the boys had no idea what to expect, but they were game for the next activity......confetti canon.......

Since they were already standing in a group, I wanted a group picture and again, they shocked me and I got a super cute one with everyone looking at me, of course I took many to get that one, but I got it!!

 Jacob doesn't realize that Bobby's can of silly string is empty and is prepared for the worst and Bobby doesn't realize that his can is empty.  Sorry bud, the silly string is all gone.

Great picture of this super awesome group of boys!!!!!  Up next??  Airplanes, trampoline jumping, Rhino rides with Bob........just boy fun!

Grandma Carolyn and Aunt Dianna got the airplanes prepared.

OK, this is more impressive if you know where I live, but Michael flew a plane from our house to the side of Rt. 19 at the bottom of our hill!!!!!!  Bob went down on the Rhino to get it and someone from the business across the highway directed him to where it landed!!!  YIKES!!!!!!! The boys were beyond thrilled by this flight!!

Not all of the flights were successful, so even landed in the trees.  These two were right on the job of getting them down.

Joey is a great photobomber!!!!

Bobby had a great time and did a lot of laughing.

Bobby and Sonny playing chase in the trampoline.

After Bobby and Sonny had Rhino rides, Jacob decided to give it a try.

 So proud that he voluntarily got in and went for a short ride!!

 Another airplane stuck in the tree....Joey to the rescue with a rake in hand.

The boys were finally wearing down, so time for some more sugar.......CAKE!!!!

The cute little cake decoration that I got for the cake was way too wide.  So Bob and Mimi decided to hold it for the picture!!!

Bobby wasn't overly interested in opening his gifts, so I let party guests open them.  Score......a Giant Eagle gift card!!!!!!!Yes, the people in our lives KNOW what Bobby likes!!!!  After everyone left, Bobby ripped open a box of magnetic squares that he also received and carried them around all evening and all morning and they even went to the bus stop with us this morning.

The party was perfect!!  The kids all had fun.  The all actually ate.  They all actually played and enjoyed being outside.  Mother Nature cooperated.  NO RAIN THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PARTY even with thunderstorms forecasted.  No meltdowns, new activities tried.  Party success!! Thanks to all of the guests, Bobby had such a great day!!