To be honest, I wasn't sure how I'd like this birthday party. I mean, it was going to be so different than other kiddo parties we've had. Fletcher's had an army soldiers party and also a Star Wars light saber party (both in Elizabeth City, NC). When he turned seven, he had a warrior themed party when the guests made their own cardboard shields and battled each other with a multitude of nerf guns. At eight, he held a "Jedi Training Academy" to celebrate with his fellow Star Wars-loving friends. Now at nine, his obsession is inline hockey. And boy, do I not use the word "obsession" lightly! Wowzer! The kid eats, lives, breathes hockey. I knew it was bad when he came home from his first Dallas Stars game (when they played the Avs at home) and kept their schedule right beside his bed to read at night. When I'm bustling around getting Tommy settled, Fletcher is reporting to me when and where the next game is. He wants to constantly be in his rollerblades and practices "checking" his little brother any chance he gets. When we play "Things" during our family game night, his answers were constantly giving him away because they all related to hockey (until we all got smart and started submitting hockey-related answers to throw off the rest of the fam!) The natural choice for a hockey-loving birthday boy was to have a rollerblading party for he and his friends to enjoy doing his favorite hobby. He was thrilled when we scheduled the party for the closest indoor roller rink which just so happens to be where his inline hockey team practices and has their games. He spent much of his party honing his speed skills!
Luckily, his friend, John McBride, an amazing athlete, was super fast on skates and could provide plenty of healthy competition for Fletcher to try and keep up with him! Those two raced around tagging each other throughout the entire party. Mom, of course, had to get in on the action which made them both laugh! I thought John was going to keel over in shock when I raced up beside him with a "nah, nah, na boo boo" face and grabbed him telling him he was "it!" 
When we asked Fletcher later in the evening what his favorite part of the party was, he said, "When they called me out to the middle of the rink to sing, 'Happy Birthday,' and I got to race around the whole rink by myself! That was super fun!"
The kids got to play Limbo which they loved. I got out on the second round, but Fletcher and the other kids stayed in for another two rounds.
Joshua Perry and Kofi were both good skaters and seemed to enjoy the party.
John McBride and Aiden took the Limbo game very seriously.
Fletcher was told by the waitress delivering the Skate City birthday cake that their tradition at Skate City is that the birthday child has to eat the first bite of their piece of cake without using their hands. She needn't say more...the boys were ALL into that!
Aiden took the challenge quite seriously (like the Limbo game!) But, he didn't take his icing smathered face seriously...he thought he was a hoot! :) He wanted to wear the icing the rest of the party and proceeded to skate around the rink with his roller warrior make-up.
Josh Perry liked his look, too. He only had the guts to wear it for two laps around the rink before he decided that was enough of the icing make-up!
The boys all went nuts for the new air soft (not sure if that is the correct name!) gun that John Flipse gave Fletch. They are gun buddies and often play nerf wars when they are together. As soon as the Chuckwagon hit the driveway when we got home, the boys piled out racing inside to our kitchen sink to soak the tiny bbs in water so they could fire the new gun at each other.
Sarah and Fletcher couldn't wait to play the Star Wars version of Trouble. They love this new game, although they bicker as they play (much to their mother's annoyance!)
Love this picture of Josh, Fletch, and John McBride.
Looks like a GREAT party!!!
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