The Party of Triassic Proportions

This past Saturday we had Larger Child's SEVENTH birthday party. I cannot even begin to explain how strange it sounds to say I am the mom of a seven year old.  It is bizarre... I am pretty sure it is a mistake, since it feels like I was dropping him off for his first day of Mother's Day Out just yesterday.  SEVEN?!?!  I mean, that's like an adolescent.  No longer a little one, "not even a smidge" as he use to say.

Despite the fact that I can't seem to wrap my mind around his rapid growth... he still grows. It appears as though time doesn't stop just because you can't comprehend its speed.  Birthdays still come, candles still increase in number, I still plan parties, and this weekend was no different. 

After Smaller Child's EPIC (homemade and HIGHLY labor intensive... albeit super awesome and fun) Little Man One Year party (http://themoderndaysahm.blogspot.com/2012/07/little-man-birthday-party.html), I was absolutely ELATED to find out that one of LC and my favorite places hosts birthday parties.  Once I looked in to it, I realized the party  was ALL INCLUSIVE.  From invitations to decorations and everything in between, they take care of it.  I was just responsible for bringing the Birthday Boy.  Where do I send the check??  The best part, he was so excited to have an "event" birthday! Super bonus! Soooo, this Seven Year Old had his Big Day at the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History (or as we call it, the Dinosaur Museum). 

 

We sent invites to all of his classmates, and to our close family.  Considering the party was about 45 minutes away, and the same time and location as the college football game, we had a decent turnout.  A couple of his classmates came, his cousin, and our family.  Manageable.

We got there a little early, and were able to explore the Museum for a bit... and have some quality time with the Birthday Boy before the party started.

The party started with special "reserved" time in the Discovery Room.  It is a room designed to give the kids real hands on experience with fossils, bones, artifacts, and wildlife.  The kids got to dig for dinosaurs, look and touch some great taxidermy critters, and see some awesome living ones too.  The excitement and fun wasn't contained strictly to the kids though... the adults got in on it as well!



 Then we set off for our guided tour of the Hall of Ancient Life (the dinosaurs).  Our tour guide was great with the kids, and really knew how to keep them engaged.  She could sense when they were particularly interested in something and spent more time there, and also knew when to move along. 

Then we met up in the café for cake, ice cream, and presents.  They had a table set up and decorated with place settings that included great party favors for the kids (and maybe for a few adults as well).  The cake was darling and delicious! The Birthday Boy seemed to really enjoy it all!

Mom and Dad rocking our Dino Hats

LC's Dino Hat often looked like a Dino Mask.

 

Because the museum housed such precious artifacts, we were unable to have candles, but we still sang Happy BDay to him.

The BDay table

And the PRESENTS!! LC seemed to get exactly what he wanted... Legos, Legos, and More Legos! AAAAaand the video game he's been after for at least a year now.  Needless to say, the expression captures it all.  He was thrilled!

Thank you to everyone who came! Larger Child is truly blessed to have such a large group of people who love him so much.  From the moment he was born, you all covered him in your support and adoration, and he will forever be blessed because of it.  I will too.

And a BIG OL HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Tremendously AWESOME, Witty, Precocious, Handsome SEVEN YEAR OLD!!! I am so glad you enjoyed your "Best EVER" Dino party, and I am equally glad I got to enjoy it with you!!! I love you Sugar Bee!