Sleepover....10 year old style!

When we started talking about Brenna's birthday and what she wanted to do, she requested a sleepover. But I know me, and having a bunch of kids running through my house making a mess makes me want to curl up and cry! And I'm only kind of kidding...except not really. So I said a quick and firm NO.
And then Josh texted me from across the room (because we are cool like that), and said that I SHOULD let her have a slumber party on January 21st. I thought he had lost his mind....until I looked at the calendar and saw that the 21st was an A shift. Yep. He thought it was a grand idea to have a 10 year old little girl sleepover....while he was at WORK! And apparently I had a moment of temporary insanity, or a moment where I had more confidence in my patience level than I should have....and I said yes. The sleepover was on....and I instantly started second guessing myself.
But since I was already committed (or should BE committed...either one...) I started planning!
I loved this sign that I found on the door that morning when I came inside...

And as soon as I saw this...my attitude changed. This party wasn't about me surviving until the next morning without having a nervous breakdown..... it was about a little girl who had been begging for several years to have a birthday sleepover. It was about the memories she was going to make that night. Isn't it crazy how your kids can keep you in check like that? A simple little note intended for her friends that had a huge impact on her Mama.
Before any of her guests arrived...I had everything set up and ready!

All decorated!

Red Velvet Nothing Bundt Cake- the birthday girl's favorite!

All ready for ice cream sundae's!

And no- I did not serve wine! (Well, not to the kids at least) Those two wine glasses in the back were for our 2 youngest partiers...Macie and Maylee! I only had 4 of the colored ones that Aunt Kim sent from Africa...so we improvised!
I asked Madison to come over and do make up for the girls, because I thought it would be fun for them. And since she's such a great sport...she agreed!

And while each girl was getting their make up done, the other's were painting their initial and eating pizza!

I'm so thankful that Maylee came over to be Macie's buddy for the evening.
And I'm also thankful that Brandi came over to be MY buddy for the evening!!
My friends are the best.

I had spent lots of time on pinterest looking for activities to keep them occupied. I knew that if given just an endless amount of time to do whatever and entertain themselves that two things were going to happen...
1. my house and nerves would never recover
2. There would be 10 year old fighting.... and I was not mentally stable enough to handle that! ha!
So- I over planned. But in the end, I am glad I did. It gave them a few structured activities to occupy some of their time, and it gave Brandi and I a lot of laughs!
Our first game was to pair up and create a "dress" made of foil and toilet paper! I drew names for their partners, and intentionally partnered Macie and Maylee. I told them one of them could be the designer and one could be the model. And they ran off to their designated spots to create. Macie and Maylee were partnered with Madison and I. we were their designers.
I thought they all did great!

Kinley and her designer Kallie!
I love that Kinley added Brenna's slippers....and wore her creation without clothes underneith! haha!

Brenna and her designer Landry!

I think they may have a future in evening wear design....or maybe not.

Presents were up next!

Brenna
Landry, Kinley, Kallie
Maylee, Macie

Cake must always follow presents...it's a rule!

Then we practiced our drawing skills by drawing pictures on top of our heads without looking. Paper plates were our canvas. This provided a lot of laughs!!!

Madison is such a great sport! I just love that kid!
Macie and Maylee left after this to go spend the night at the Baldwin's. Unfortunately, about an hour and a half later Brandi had to bring Macie home. My theory is that she started to think of all the fun she was missing out on and wanted to come back.
Our next activity was emptying the tissue boxes!

Except that I forgot to add the detail that you have to take them out one by one! Kallie reached in and grabbed them all and pulled them out in one handful! hahaha! That's a girl who is focused on getting the job done!
Our last activity doesn't have any pictures....
I put ping pong balls in the empty tissue boxes and put a belt on it and strapped it on them and they had to jump, bounce, shake to get the balls out before the other person. Why aren't there any pictures?? Because these girls are flexible and have some serious moves....and I was so busy laughing that my whole video is of the floor instead of them! It was greatness!
After we finished all of our "Minute to Win It" games and the disco dance party up stairs, they popped some popcorn and settled in for a movie.

And I settled in downstairs with my popcorn and my two best friends...peace and quiet! ha!
Macie came home about this time and was happy to curl up in my bed and go straight to sleep. ( I couldn't blame her...and I was a little jealous).
Luckily the big girls finally drifted off to sleep at some point....I was asleep by midnight, but I think they went to sleep about that time too.
The next morning, Josh brought donuts home for them. Everyone gathered their things and all were gone by 10am.
I was worn out, but I survived my very first real slumber party with more than one extra kiddo. Honestly, I had fun. Not enough fun to do it again any time soon, but more fun than I thought I would have when the whole idea got started! And Brenna had a BLAST! Which is really what it was all about. And I couldn't have asked for a better group of kiddos. They were polite, sweet, and fun.
And as soon as the last one left, I got my house back in order and fell onto the couch and slept for 5 straight hours..... Just kidding. I showered us all, got dressed and headed to Ft Worth for the Stock Show and Rodeo followed by dinner with family for Josh's birthday. Because that's how we roll.... Sleep is for sissy's!