Here's a rundown of what we did last weekend. 

Chuck made decorating the yard his mission.

He covered this tent in hay. We think it looks like an aboriginal hut.  

Duck blinds make excellent safari party decor. 

He even added the little details. 

Charley decorated the fence while her Daddy stood guard for granddaddy long legs. 

She gathered little doo dads that she thought were safari-like and stuck them here and there.

 

I had plans to paint the children's faces but after a trial run on Charley we nixed the idea. It burned Charley's skin so bad she cried while I was rushing to wipe it off of her. DON'T buy this face paint. It comes in a blue box and it's sold at Wal-mart. Who makes face paint that burns?

Chuck did an awesome job with the porch.

He and Charley made sure no one could miss the place.  

I thought these little signs were very sweet. 

The snakes were not a hit. 

Would you eat them? 

Me neither. 

I made dirt cake by crumbling 3 batches brownie mix and mixing them with chocolate glaze. Chuck suggested the coconut grass idea. I just put some coconut in a Tupperware, added food coloring, and shook it. It covered very well.  

I found the rainforest water idea on Pinterest. 

I just happened to have the leaf shaped paint samples 

Charley greedily gathered up on one of our trips to Lowes. 

This is here is Safari Sam. 

That's what we had to call him. 

This party would not have a been a success without him. 

Besides decorating the yard and entire porch, he came up with all of the activities. 

First up he had the kids line up and prepare for the possibility of animal attack by throwing darts at balloons. I was manned the shoot-out-the-candle-with-a-water-gun-station. 

Then Safari Sam took the kids on a safari. 

They looked for small plastic animals hidden all over the yard.

Most of the kids were REALLY into it. 

There were a couple of hecklers in the back...

one of which I put in his place, in the sweetest southern way. 

I ain't havin' no disrespect. 

We loved watching Charley lead the group.

A friend's little sister called her "the BEST Charley EVER." 

The adhesive had to be replaced with duct tape. 

Poor Chuck.

All he asked for was a mustache.

And a pith helmet. 

And candles.

And candlestick holders.

And water guns.

And balloons.

And darts.

And crepe paper.

And tape.

And tacks.

And a lighter. 

The kids loved the freedom on the enormous yard. 

The hut was destroyed, as expected. 

Present time is the best time.

It's true. I said it. 

And, now that it's done I can say, I could wait 5-20 years before having a friend party again. 

Good gosh it was a lot of trouble.

Keeping up with the kids was incredibly stressful.

Did you know that around 5-7 years old, parents just drop their kids off???

They leave.

You are the babysitter. 

You are responsible for making sure that 11 children do not run into the street or get lost in the woods. AHHHH. 

I counted to 11 like 67 times. 

There was one couple and one granddad that stayed and they did help me count.

And of course I had Chuck who continually makes me grateful I am not a single parent. 

Maybe it's because I am new in town and I don't know these people very well, but I simply do not feel comfortable leaving my child in someone else's care when there are so many other children present. Who knows, if I were in Alabama among those parents I know a little better, I might be hightailing it too, but not here. Not now. 

SO, anyway, Happy Birthday Baby. 

I can't believe she's SEVEN. 

I love her more every single day.