Henry's Army Party

This year, Henry was due for a big birthday party.  I feel bad that Ellis usually gets the big parties, and then Henry's birthday usually gets overshadowed by Thanksgiving.  His birthday fell on Black Friday this year, so we had a friend party the weekend before Thanksgiving.  After much deliberating, he decided to have an army party!

This was the cake we enjoyed planning and making together.

Ben Borrowed some army clothes from a friend in our ward, and he became the best birthday party drill sargent ever.  It was nice because he could keep the boys in line, and it was all part of the act!

I greeted the recruits and gave assigned them to the Red or Black team for the party.

They ate their pizza fast, so they could get on with the more important stuff.

Sergeant Ben filled them in on all the rules, and that from this point on, everything they did in Boot Camp would count toward their ranking.

He led them in some basic "attentions."

The soldiers then had to scope out the enemy from a far distance by counting the enemy soldiers.  Unfortunately, they knocked the soldiers over before I got a picture.  :)

Parachute drop

They had to get the paratroopers to land in the laundry basket to score points.

Grenade toss (with green balloons filled with beans)

Push-up contest

Finn takes a quick pause for a bite of pizza.

This is Frankie, our wounded soldier.  The boys set out to rescue him by completing an obstacle course.

First, they ran across the gym and back.

Then they army crawled.

Then they had to carefully cross the land mine course.

Through the ropes

Grab Frankie, and run him to safety!


Finally, the moment of truth.  Army rankings determined their weapon-selection order.  No tears were shed over this . . . at first.


Once they had chosen their weapons, it was time for the big war - the thing all the boys talked about at school for weeks!

Players with pennys were dart moneys - they had to pick up all the darts for their particular round.

Ben grew out his beard just for this party...

I wouldn't mess with these guys if I were you.

And with that, he's one of the coolest nine-year-olds ever!

Happy Birthday, Henry!