The Big Birthday Party

Rose #1's big birthday party was yesterday at our house.  Here are a few tips for a 7-year-old birthday party:

1. 15 CHILDREN IS TOO MANY. 
   
2. THERE IS A REASON WHY THEY HAVE PARTY PLACES LIKE CHUCK E. CHEESE. 
3. BUY BIRTHDAY CANDLES so as to avoid the very wounded glance of the child for whom you planned, invited, coordinated, shopped, etc.

Anyway, here is the pre-arrival birthday scene.  Every guest had a Star Wars persona, as indicated by the index cards.  Rose #1 was Anakin (but of course, you are saying!).  The cake was courtesy of Aunt Charity.  And the Star Wars Lego guy arrangement was courtesy of H.  You can't see it but he decapitated some of the guys to indicate that the other guys were vigilant in guarding the cake. 

After all the guests had arrived and been counted (seriously, like day care or something), we went to the park to try to play Star Wars kickball.  Kickball was a mixed bag.  Some kids didn't know how to play; others didn't want to; others were REALLY enthusiastic.  

After kickball it was PINATA time.  Would you believe it - Rose #3 actually ended up breaking the pinata!  H said it ripped under the weight of the candy but I know better.
Immediate post-breakage, the following angry mob ensued.  Luckily, H had gotten PLENTY of candy for all:
Slightly out of sequence timewise, here is the shot of all of the party guests on the slide at the park:
Next year, no more than three party guests.  I am going to remember this and stick to my guns.  Er, my lightsabers.