Oh to be turning Seven!

Okay, we are crazy. We threw Greer the mother of all birthday parties over the weekend and I'm still exhausted! I think, subconsciously, I'm trying to make up for being stuck on my back-- for her birthday last year. Thanks to my sister-in-law, Rachel for the cool idea-- we did a "Spy Party". We sent out invitations in manila envelopes marked "top secret". The invites had part of the words written backwards - so the girls had to hold them up to a mirror to read them.
Once they arrived, we had them make their spy identification cards-- complete with a picture, fingerprints and a made-up spy name. Greer's was Roxy Skyline. Reese was Lexie Butterfly.
While they were busy making their ID's, someone stole the birthday presents! So all the girls had to go to Spy Training to help them solve the crime. We started with an agility relay-- push ups, jumping jacks, hula hooping, jump roping etc. (unfortunately, it was cold and pouring outside-- so agility was inside).

The girls had to squeeze into the bathroom for weapons training (they shot squirt guns at empty water bottles-- knocking them into the tub). Reese was on one of the teams-- but really served as a mascot.

Next the girls went to their disguise making course.

And finally, the last course was bomb detonation! It took them 86 seconds to pop some 70 balloons.

Inside one of the balloons was a "clue" note sending them on a short treasure hunt.

They found a packet with a puzzle inside the BBQ--- the puzzle was actually a treasure map leading to the neighbor's house and a secret code phrase they would have to use to get the gifts back.

My darling next door neighbor, Nancy answered the door with a thick Russian accent "Vhat do yu vant?". She made them give her the code: "Spy Girls Rock" before she let them in, where they had to find the scattered presents around her house. Nancy was a star!

We gathered the presents and headed home where one of Greer's friends serenaded her. Sophia learned how to play Happy Birthday especially for GiGi's party. So cute!

I made a cake shaped like a present (since they were stolen).

And finally, Greer got to tear into the gifts.

She loved it, the kids loved it and Byron and I collapsed after it was over. This was her last, big party blow out. Thank goodness!