Boys, Bouncy Balls, Boiling Points and Balloons

We finally had Daniel's 8th birthday party with his friends on Sunday.

A few weeks back, when he and I talked about what he wanted to do for his party this year, he said he wanted a "science" party.  He suggested the Carnegie Science Center, but he wanted to invite all his friends from school and hockey.  The thought of being responsible for 15 seven to eight year old boys in the Science Center was more than I could bear; so I was happy to discover on their website that they do "Science on the Go" birthday parties at your home or other location.  Additionally, the thought of 15 seven to eight year old boys in my home was more than I could bear; so I was also happy to discover that the Bethel Park Community Center rents out rooms for a fairly reasonable rate.

Oh, how happy I was with the choices I made!  :-)   

Boys are LOUD!  Really, really loud!

Boys are also active!  Really, really active!

(In fact, I was pleased to receive a call 

from the Community Center 

yesterday that they'd be sending me 

my deposit check back.  

Shooo!  That's a relief!)

 

 

 

In all seriousness, it wasn't too bad.  The boys were, for the most part, very well behaved for a bunch of young boys, many of whom, hadn't seen each other all summer and were moved to different schools this year due to the redistricting in Bethel Park.

Julie, from the Science Center, seemed completely unfazed by the boys' loudness.  She helped them all to make their own bouncy balls - explaining about polymers.

Markos making his bouncy ball

Daniel (with crazy hair after running around like a maniac) and David making their bouncy balls.

Max and Caeden making their balls

She let Daniel help her make play-doh. 

 

 

Each kid made their own "slime" (which I secretly advised all parents at pick-up to throw away that night after their children were asleep).

Making slime

More slime

And then, the most exciting part of the party -- she used liquid nitrogen to make ice cream for the kids to eat.  Nothing excites a bunch of boys more than hearing about how if they stick their finger or tongue into the liquid nitrogen, it will freeze and break off!  Throw some instant fog and boiling in and you've definitely got yourself a party!!

Daniel adding the ingredients to make ice cream

 

 

I have to tell you - it was seriously some of the best ice cream that I think I've ever had!  And, Daniel could actually eat it!  No allergens.  Just cream, sugar, salt, vanilla and some liquid nitrogen!  Woo hoo! 

Yum!  Liquid Nitrogen ice cream

  

Markos even ate his!

Of course, it had to be a hockey cake (even though Daniel couldn't eat that cake).  Yes, his nice Mommy made a special cake that he could eat.  It just wasn't pretty. Or decorated. Or appealing to the rest of the kids.

 

 

He got some great gifts and gift cards (which are burning a hole in his pocket)! 

More hockey stuff

More Penguins stuff

Surprisingly, Markos was actually pretty well behaved (for Markos).  He was a little confused about the gifts at first and was a tad irritated that they were all for Daniel with none for him, but he handled it ok.

Awww.  The sweet, innocent boys (and poor Kylee, the only girl).

Yea.  That's more like it!

Happy birthday, Daniel!

(Hallelujah!!  All kid's birthdays are finished until next year!  

Now, I just have to get through Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas....)

A Great Day for Hockey!

Today, Daniel made his big hockey debut in a large venue - Consol Energy Center!  OK, so he really only got to play a 2 minute scrimmage during the 1st intermission at the Penguins pre-season game against the Minnesota Wild, but still!!!  We were excited!  And, Daniel?  Well, he was beyond excited!  It was like...Christmas!!

We arrived early (as instructed).  Although we had to drive around the block and ask a security guy to find it, we parked in the South Lot across from the Trib Total Media gate (as instructed).  What can I say?  In my normal neurotic fashion, I printed our 3 pages of instructions and had them in my purse!  It was all very STRESSFUL! 

Eric laughed at me last night because, in the carefully laid out directions and pages of instructions, we were informed that only one parent was allowed to accompany the players to the locker room to get them in their gear and get them on and off the ice.  I read Eric the attachment from the Penguins (to make sure that he read it all) and then I asked him, "now, do YOU want to go down with him?  Or, would you rather I go down with him, because...." but before I could launch into all the important details that I felt certain he missed when I read him the instructions (while he ignored me and played a computer game), he said, "Lori, I will if you want me to, but really, why don't you just do it?  You know that if you're in control of it all, you'll feel a lot better and won't stress out nearly as much."  He made a good point.   So, Daniel and I gathered with the rest of the team in the lobby and awaited our VIP lanyards.

Daniel - ready to go!

So happy to get to play with his buddy, Luke!

Luke, Daniel & Ryan - teammates in SHAHA

We had to be there really early to check Daniel's gear with the Penguins' staff.

Daniel and Luke, excitedly awaiting their chance to play down on that ice!

Killing some time in Kids' Zone

Still waiting and killing time!

Finally, they get to head down to the locker room!

Checking out their sticks!

Getting their equipment

Almost ready - time for their...game faces?

Now they're getting serious!!

Daniel & Luke ready to play...against each other!! :-(

More detailed instructions from the Penguins' staff

Figuring out teams

Daniel wearing white

Daniel leading his white team out to the ice

Warming up a little

Listening as their names are announced

Daniel is ready!

Daniel shoots....

Great shot, Daniel....but Luke stopped it!

Daniel shoots again....

Another great shot,....but Luke stops it again!

Awww.  Was that 2 minutes already?!

Time to go up in the stands with the rest of 18,000 cheering fans (mostly kids!), watch some Penguins' hockey, and oh yea...get on TV!!

Final score:  Pens - 4, Wild - 1

Such a fun game.  Such a great day for Daniel.  He and his friends really had an awesome time.  So thankful for his coaches, the friends he's made, and the Penguins giving all those youth hockey leagues free tickets.