Boston's 12th Birthday Party

Last year Boston decided to not have a party and took the money instead.  I was happy that this year he wanted a party.  We had it in our backyard, and it was the same type of party Aubrie had.  Just come and hang out and do  your own thing and enjoy yourself as young preteens, hanging out together.  The key to this type of party is letting them invite boys and girls.  I really feel that its good to get them together in controlled fun environments so they know how to act around the opposite sex.    Otherwise when they start dating at 16 they are social awkward.  We didn't have that problem as kids, but with social media kids really need that face to face interaction...with parental supervision:)    I'm so glad we have the type of yard to throw that type of party.  All the kids have a great time, and feel a little more grown up being able to just "hang" out.  They have fun going between the baseball court, tether ball, trampoline, pool, hanging out around the fire pit, hanging out in the hot tub, playing soccer, or coming in for some X-Box Kinect.
Boston's party was full of variety, when it came to the kids.  He had almost his whole soccer team there, along with his friends from church (including girls) and friends from school and his best friend from West Wing.  He did very good at spreading the love around, and socializing with all the groups of people.  He is quite the social guy, and very friendly to all kids.  We had a wide spread from the more "studios" kids with all his rubix cubes, to the jocks, to the socially inept kid from school who Boston so graciously accepted as he crashed his party uninvited.  I'm proud of how he treats all kids, and doesn't make anyone feel inferior.  I think thats why people love him so much.
All the kids had a great time, and some of them who had committed to other parties and had to leave early, were sad to have to leave.  For Ben and I, these parties are easy.  They basically run themselves.  The only thing we didn't prepare for was how much food twelve year old boys eat!  We ran out of food quick, and Ben finally made a Taco Bell run!
Boston scored big time with the presents. Everyone was so generous. I was really quite overwhelmed by it.   He ended up with over 200 dollars in cash, and over a 100 in gift cards.  Way better than his 200 dollar party cash out he did last year!  LOL   The great thing is that last year he was super generous at Christmas, and always is.  So I know that money will be spent wisely and generously!  What a great kid!