It was an afternoon filled with wonder, amazement, laughs and explosions! Quite the experience for everyone involved!
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| We found disposable lab coats at a safety store in town and ordered kid size lab glasses online. It made everything very official. |
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| I created a science lab chalk board for decoration behind our Mad Scientist... I think I enjoyed it more than anyone else and I might have a hard time parting with it! |
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| Security around the lab was pretty tight and all scientists had to scan to come in. The whole thought was that it would push down the doorbell... luckily my sister rang it a thousand times because it was pretty tricky to actually work but she made it see worthwhile! :) |
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| Sam and I decorated the window and Shaun set up the food table. We don't have a picture of it but all the food on the left was for making your own molecules. Cubed cheese, meat, pickles, melon balls, grapes, marshmallows with pretzel sticks as the binding... pretty fun! |
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| We got petri dishes and Shaun made some squirmy samples for the kids to eat! |
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| Finally, we tried an experience and got everything possible to make the most creative and brilliant build-your-own cupcakes ever. It was lots of fun picking out toppings at Bulk Barn and watching the kids pick and choose what they'd like on their treat! |
This was our first experience with a drop off birthday party. A couple adults stayed but the majority of the kids were dropped off and picked up. This was also my first experience hosting children that I don't know and that don't know me... I still have a lot to learn and patience to grow.
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| So then you add 12 MAD SCIENTISTS and things get a little more crazy! I am very lucky and happy to say that overall, these kiddos were on their very best behaviour, even though they look a little wild! |
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| This is a pic of them during Jurassic John's introduction of himself. They were captivated and excited. The first highlight was after his little opening speech and asking if anyone had any questions, one boy raised his hand and said "Why are you yelling?" And his quick reply was "I just love science!" |
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| The show started off with a magic colouring book. Not really science but very fun! This is Sam blowing all the pictures out of the book for him! |
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| There were 3 cups on the table and he asked the kids to make observations about them. He added water to one and mixed them all up and then when he asked the kids if they still thought the water was in the white cup and they said yes, he had Sam come up to get the water dumped on his head but nothing came out!!! He had a powder in before adding water that solidified the water... same powder that is diapers! |
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| Sam got to 'Vana' the product to all his friends. |
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| The scientist did a big part of his show about electricity. He made little lightning strikes, burnt some paper with the electricity and then used our son as a lightbulb holding grounding stick!!! I think it kind of looks like a light saber which is right up Sam's alley! |
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| Then Sam got to give little shocks to all this friends using that machine (he said the name a million times but I remember it) going through the Mad Scientist! |
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| Sam also got zapped a few times! |
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| Next he gave the kids special glasses that diffused the light into all the colours of the rainbow. They were AMAZED. |
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| He then burned different substances that created different colours of flame. This one was iron and it made indoor fireworks! |
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| He also lit 'flash' paper on fire which burned very fast. There was a few moments when there was fireballs hovering in the air!!! Little intense but very cool! |
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| A definite highlight was the dry ice. He made flavoured, blue 'soda' with it. He asked the kids what should they name it and one boy said "Owen". Now that's hilarious! |
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| He then went around and let all the kids 'taste' it by breathing it in... little weird to watch (are these kids at a rave?) but the kids thought it was really cool! |
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| Using soap, water and dry ice the Scientist made Sam and party hat... and beard... and himself a hat and beard. This dude knows how to party!!! |
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| He gave Sam a tube and said that he could not move. He added water and then dry ice and to steamed out the top. Then he put this curve on it and it was just pouring out on Sam's head. So funny. |
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| He dipped the tube in soap and it created this amazing bubbles. He dropped one on each kid's head... and when it popped the bubble was filled with steam. Really cool! |
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| He gather the group around this large tub of water... |
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| ... and then dumped a cooler of dry ice into it. The steam poured over the edge and the kids were AMAZED! |
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| Happiness. |
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| Teacher friends... this is what engaged learning looks like, right!!! They were so into it and eating up every single moment! |
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| The finale was each kid got to make their own pile of goo. |
The kids made their molecule snacks and created their cupcakes. Our lonely only was a little overwhelmed and decided he didn't want a cupcake which causes a little issue in trying to sing happy birthday. We got him to agree to blow the candles out on one... unfortunately, due to a series of events, the cupcake tipped and the wax burnt his hand. Next year, if Sam does not want birthday cake his crazy parents will not force it on him!!! We opened gifts (so many thoughtful items bought clearly with Sam in mind, he is one lucky boy) and then the friends were all gone.
I'm grateful for someone else to be the entertainment and will definitely do something like that again. I'm grateful for the excitement in Sam's and his friends' eyes as they watched the experiments and clearly all love to learn. I'm grateful for a husband who rolls up his sleeves to clean, cook, decorate, design and do anything else I need... living with me must be a little like a science experiment. Thank you my love. I'm grateful for my sister who came early to give us a little more time with her family; my sister who helped label, feed, herd and love the kids. You are so wonderful Breezy. I'm grateful for friends who have never missed a party and even though our kiddos might not be super close anymore you always stay in touch and love my boy... I'm lucky to have mommy buddies like you.
Lastly, I'm grateful for my son. I think back... 6 years ago today (Feb 16) I was pregnant with him. I didn't know he'd be coming the next day. I didn't know the struggle we'd have to ensure he arrived safely. I didn't know the level of medical support we'd soon be receiving and the number of strangers that worked night and day to make sure he'd be fed, breathing, changed, growing, strong, comfortable, snuggled and loved. Thinking of all those people, makes me tear up even now 6 years later. I didn't know how hard a newborn would be, how hard breastfeeding was, how hard staying sane is, how hard it is to make a baby stop crying or sleep is. I didn't know crawling was significantly more challenging and that walking brought on a new level of destruction. I didn't know what his voice would sound like or what his laugh would be. I didn't know he would have the world's best smile and kindest heart. I didn't know how one very small being could change the way I view the world or fill my life with so much happiness or make my marriage that much stronger. I didn't know how wonderful of a hugger he'd be or how incredibly funny he'd be. I didn't know how his hand would feel in mine or the sleep I'd lose thinking of the day he wouldn't want to hold my hand anymore. I didn't know how full my heart would be watching him with his daddy being the best of friends. I didn't know anything, to be perfectly honest. And I still don't... I love this boy in a way I cannot explain. He is the best thing I've ever made, the most interesting person I've ever met. I don't even dare to guess what 6 year old type things we will do or learn or see and I'm excited for this unknown.
I love you Sam. You are my sunshine. Happiest of birthday sweet boy.
