Because we went to Hawaii for Christmas and over James's birthday, we told him that for sure we would have a birthday party for him. But when it came right down to it, he wouldn't really commit to who he wanted to invite or what he wanted to do. So I took matters into my own hands and planned an Astling first: A SURPRISE PARTY! Some of his school and neighborhood friends were invited to arrive at our house while Mark took James to Home Depot to buy supplies for a project. He was very, very surprised to find friends jumping out at him when he came home.
Unfortunately I didn't get a good shot of his surprise because my phone decided to focus on the banister instead.
He kept saying, "Why are you here?" "What is going on?"
After explaining that all his friends were there for his birthday, we loaded all of them into two vehicles and left for Bookdocks Fun Center (another first for an Astling birthday and sure sign that I'm getting old and tired).
They were entertained by the teenager in the purpose shirt, with "magic tricks," games, arm wrestling and tearing the plastic table clothes into headbands.
The Bookdocks birthday package came with a crown and James wasn't too embarrassed to wear it.
Nate Draney, Hayden Marty, Teagan Burnside, Camden Chavez, Tim Chinsky, Nate Tullis, Austin Dunn, Jacob Adams, James Astling, Jack Pierce and Sam Echeverria.
After playing numerous games of laser tag, earning tickets from game machines to buy plastic toys made in China and complaining that they were cheated by the game that offered an iPhone (some boys were downright irate about this injustice that can only be learned the hard way), we had cupcakes (another Astling first).
And what sort of cake do you make for a 12-year-old who can't decide what to do for his birthday?
Poop emojis. . .
. . and other emojis too.
These cupcakes had Reeses Peanut Butter Cups in the middle.
A fun surprise birthday party with many Astling firsts and probably some Astling lasts, as it will likely be the last true kid birthday party.
Happy birthday (again) James!
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