team jenkins: Pizza+Water Guns+Banner Run-Thru=Back To School Bash '10

I'm so glad that I live sandwiched between very creative neighbors/friends. This back-to-school-bash has been a highlight of our end-of-summer events. It's hard to believe this was our 4th year! We were excited to add the 2 Mock children this year. The more the merrier!

Here's the crew ... notice that several are gussied up for the event ... oh to be a kid again!

Funny story: the biggest part of the bash is the banner run-thru. In the 3 previous years, we've picked out special music (like you'd hear at a sporting event) and used our karaoke machine to play it. The best part? The dads use the microphone on the machine to announce their child as he/she runs thru. Truly hysterical, as we get all kinds of info on the child and what he/she is looking most forward to in the coming year.

So here's the funny part. This year we had no mic. I'm not really sure what happened to it - no one, as yet, has confessed to completely obliterating it, but obliterated it was. Chuck was not having the run thru without a mic. So he proceeded to go to Toys R Us just an hour before the bash to buy a new one. We've now welcomed an iCarly mic into our Cleft gatherings (it was either that or Sponge Bob - Chuck made a good choice) ... it worked great!

I'm pretty sure I heard Chuck mention something about putting it in his safety deposit box until next year. Goodness knows that's the only place it would be totally safe!

Katie Beth was the first one through. Each child was supposed to 'strike a pose' as they came through. Some did. Some didn't. She did - and was adorable.

Here comes Ty!

Sweet Jacob ... um, I mean Super Man!

And Will Mock!

Can you feel Anna Beth's enthusiasm?

Riley Catherine ... she promptly did a back bend as her 'pose'!

Blaine thought he'd amaze us with a cartwheel ...

Not really sure what Jarrett's goal was ...

Will Warbington ... not much into striking a pose ...

Graham walked through the banner ... he is in 5th grade, you know ...

Wesley got pelted by water guns as he came through. This is part of our tradition of those starting middle school. Last year Ethan was silly-stringed/strung/stranged ... not sure on the verbage of that ...

Ethan dashed for a water gun ...

Mr. Wonderful ... armed but not real dangerous ... unless you like to stay dry ...

Can you feel Riley Catherine's free spirit?? This was the dance party after the run thru ...

Will Mock, Ty & Jacob were doing some type of ring around the rosey dance ...

Then there was the train ...

Graham totally soaked. But happy.

Ruh-roh ... Ty's got a gun!

Before dessert, the kids all circled up and told one goal for their year. Stacey did a great job of challenging them to bless those around them this year.

During the goal sharing time, this is what Ty was doing to Jarrett. I was having a hard time not laughing. It was hysterical. Jarrett was trying his best to ignore.