Last night I lay down in the late evening and patted myself on the back.  My son was upstairs with his best friend wired from sugar and adrenaline but exhausted at the same time.  1/4 of a cake sat on the counter, the living room floor had a pile of birthday cards, and I kicked off my shoes and lay back with a cup of tea to recollect on the day.

Last year X took the kids for their yearly summer vacation and it usually falls on J's birthday so I can have them in August which is when NL gets the best of the summer weather.  He was so disappointed with his birthday last year, not only that we couldn't throw a class party, but he wasn't pleased with how it turned out with his dad.  We threw one in August with his cousins but by then he was so over it and although he loved his family party, he felt let down by all the stories from his classmates about their parties.

So this year he begged for an early party and I know inwardly, probably outwardly too, I groaned.  I groaned because it was another item to add to my list, another cost to incur, and another potential disappointment if none of his friends came.  it truly is hit or miss at class parties for attendance.

So with that in mind, he chose a Nerf war party theme and I went about trying to cut corners.  I booked a gym at our Y where we are members getting a discount rate, I ordered limited items and got a crazy good sale, I did very low-cost foods and not much of it because kids don't stop to eat at parties and parents drop and go, and I kept the loot bags reasonable and with items I could buy in bulk.

So pizza, chips, fruit, water, and a loot bag that consisted of a kool aid pouch, Mr freeze, kit kat bar, and a bag of microwave popcorn was purchased.  Cheap tablecloths and cutlery in bright colors and one splurge were the cake pops made by a new home bakery in town that was DELICIOUS!

The kids came, almost everyone we invited came!!  They arranged the Y's mats and giant blocks into barricades, we went over the rules, the whistle was blown, and for over an hour they shot their guns, chased down bullets, and laughed themselves silly.  Equal parts girls and boys showed up and mingled seamlessly and we ended a Nerf war party without a single tear shed.

His friends were generous in their gifts and J was beaming with pride as he kept saying "best party ever!"  And I feel content that through a week of stomach bugs, work uncertainty, car repairs, home repairs, mounting bills, and travel plans I pulled it off successfully.

all ready, guests just started arriving

easy table set up.  Nerf colors, Nerf sticker on the water, and a cake pop

200 bullets ready to be played with, Nerf custom rules sign

easy loot bags with more Nerf stickers