Slumber Party Hangover

Last night, Lizzie had five of her closest friends over for a birthday party slumber party. I initially thought the idea was a really great one. Now, I know better. Six tween girls under one roof is a recipe for madness. There were thrills, tears, bawdy jokes, suggestive dancing involving a pole and a water balloon penis. Yep, good times.

The girls started arriving around three o'clock, which was totally crazy since each time a new girl arrived, the ones already present would run upstairs screaming: Someone's here! They finally all arrived safe and sound, albeit a bit more hard of hearing than when they had arrived. Party games ensued. A good time was had by all.

That is, until the big guns came out. Being the good parents that Madhubby and I are, we had planned an awesome surprise for the girls: an abridged version of The Amazing Race.

Fresh air, competition and exciting challenges! What could be more fun, right? Wrong, wrong, wrong. Interpretive-dance-girl didn't want to compete. Does it have to be a race? Blondie's legs were tired from the soccer game we played, earlier. I don't think I can take another step. It was complaint after complaint until finally: We all give up. WHAT?! You can't just give up. It's a race with a really cool prize at the end. You can't just stop. But, the Lego build had pushed them over the edge and they all just gave up. Some cried tears of frustration. Others vented about their team members motivation. In some ways, our race was a lot like the real thing.

The night did get better from there. We ate cake and ice cream under the stars. Lizzie opened (and loved) all her gifts. And, we tucked them all in to the soothing sounds of Charlie's "I hope this movie isn't inappropriate" Angels. I know I fell asleep before they did.

All in all, I think it's another birthday party success. The girls aren't permanently scarred. They had a lot of fun watching PG-13 movies and drinking Coke like fiends. And, the best part, not one of them passed out in a pool of their own vomit.