Monkeying Around at the Treehouse

Okay, I am not sure if it was the trip to Monkey's Treehouse with his friends or the trip to McDonalds with his friends that got Seth more excited!  He was just about to bust a seam the morning of his birthday playdate.  We had such a fun time with friends who met up with us to celebrate Seth by running around all over the place like, well...monkeys.

We began the fun around 10am and let the boys play for about an hour and a half.  Then we corralled them all and made our way over to the McDonalds that is very conveniently located in front of The Monkey's Treehouse.  Luckily, the big circular 4-year-old party sized booth in the center of the restaurant was vacant and the perfect spot for our band of characters.  It really could not have worked out any better.  And you would have thought Seth had struck gold.  He doesn't get to go to McDonalds very often, but when he does, he thinks it is a great treat.  Maybe it is the fries.  Well, it is probably more like the prize he gets with his meal.

The thing that intrigued the boys the most that entire day, and amazingly all at the same time, was the box of Mario gummies that I brought as "party favors."  The boys were mesmerized by the box and it kept them thoroughly entertained while us mommas ordered food.  It was really funny.  I looked high and low for some sort of Mario favor or stickers or something and could not find anything at Wal-mart, Target, or the two party stores I visited.  Nope, just the Mario gummies, but it proved to be more than enough.  And it proved to be some solid motivation at the end of the party, too, since it is pretty hard to willingly leave a rocking play date.  I strategically placed the box of gummies by the exit and had Seth walk each friend out when it came time for him to leave, with the instruction that he couldn't open the gummies until he got into his car.  It worked every time.  With minimal screaming.

After lunch and birthday cupcakes...topped with sprinkles and Mario gummies, (yes, those gummies were quite versatile that day)  we headed back of to the treehouse to burn off some of that energy and sugar.  The boys played and played and played. 

Caleb even found some interesting attire to sport around.  (I can't wait to break out this picture in about ten years.)

By the time we left, much, much energy had been expended and I am assuming seven boys slept very well that night. 

I know at least two of them did.