Day 9: Jeb's GI Joe Party

A few weeks ago, Jeb gave the boys in his class an invitation in a manila envelope with the word "Classifed" on the outside that said:
G.I. JOE, HERE IS YOUR TOP SECRET MISSION


(AKA) JEB MATHEWS’ 6TH BIRTHDAY PARTY:
ARRIVE: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2010
AT 1500 TO 1630 HOURS
(3:00 TO 4:30)
LOCATION: FORT MATHEWS

WE ARE LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MEN TO SERVE AND PROTECT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES. PLEASE COME IN YOUR FATIGUES AND BRING BRAVE BODIES AND MINDS.

YOUR FIRST TASK: COLOR UNCLE SAM ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THIS PAPER AND BRING IT TO THE PARTY FOR A PRIZE.


THIS MESSAGE WILL SELF-DESTRUCT IN 30 SECONDS.

The party was going to be in the backyard, so I wrote this on the sidewalk in front of the front door:

The flags:

 The entrance to the backyard:

When the boys arrived, they each received a dog tag with their name on it and a helmet.  And we did some cool tattoos.

I went to the Armed Forces Recruiting Office and they gave me this cool poster along with some stickers and bracelets for party favors.  I put the poster on the fort with an American Flag.

While we waited for the kids to arrive, Michael (aka General Hawk) led the boys in "Drill Sergeat Says" (like Simon Says).  Then we went on a march around the front yard.

The first game was an obstacle course.  They stood on a low stool and sat in a swing to swing across the pit of snakes.  They jumped off.  Then they climbed up the rockwall.  Then down the slide.  They they had to army crawl under this bench.

Then they ran through the "tires":

Then they ran to the fence.

After the obstacle course, we threw grenades (cute little water balloons that looked like grenades) at the targets...the boys helped make Cobra targets

And for the final game, the boys each received an "ambulance," a brown paper sack with a red cross, and we headed to the front yard where a huge battle had taken place and poor downed soldiers lay waiting for their medics...an Easter egg type hunt.

Finally it was time for cake.  Jeb chose to have a "battle scene" cake over cupcakes with individual army men.

The party favors included the helmets, tags, tattoos, the "rescued" soldiers, the stickers and bracelets from the recruiting office, little fighter jets, and parachuters...lots of good stuff from the dollar stores.

We had a great time...especially GI Jeb.