Crazy Day is Over

Let's see...
8:40 -
Moose and I return from the school with the kids. They had fun running around in the dark. There was lots of mud from the downpour which ended just before they left the house. Shoes are now all on the porch, and Rachel is wearing a pair of Mali's pants.
8:45 -
Cake time! Moms (Michelle and Mari-Faye) have arrived and are watching with us. Andrew lights the candles while I take pictures, then we all sing Happy Birthday to Mali.
9:00 -
Presents are opened. Pixie sticks are brought out, and soon there is sugary pixie dust all over the place. This joins with the glitter from the make-up event to form an interesting new texture on the top of every surface.
9:15 -
Andrew breaks out the DDR upstairs. This placates the horde for awhile. People begin to leave, of course starting with Abbie (the sweetest one) who actually left with her mom from the school; followed now by Mali's co-conspirators Hannah and Rachel (the most useful - with their mothers) who both have to get up early, Hannah at 5:30! Hannah's mom Michelle is a saint, and helps clean up for twenty minutes before leaving. (Mari-Faye is great too, she was here for the beginning craziness.)
Most of the boys seem to be here for the long haul.

Now - Late -
I don't know when I've been this tired. I drove Rian and Jamie home. Jamie's parents didn't seem to be coming to get him. That's sort of understandable. He talks a lot. Susy says he's the only person she's ever seen successfully order Mali around. (Update - He also had Andrew doing his bidding, very surprising.)
Rian and Andrew were great. They saved us. Rachel and Hannah and Mali did a great job of planning everything out. There was plenty of activities, and it seemed like everyone had fun. I think this will be a party everyone will remember for a long time.

Good night.