Beaven Birthday Bash 2011

We decided to have a combined birthday party for the 3 little Beavens on March 20th.  The first time we went to the Yuma Territorial Prison I decided it would be a great place for a birthday party.  I looked into it for last years party, but there were some issues with the state turning control of the prison over to the county so instead we celebrated by going to LegoLand and SeaWorld with my sisters family and my dad.  BUT... this year, I knew I was going to revisit that prison idea.  Apparently my request was a bit odd (who wouldn't want to have their party at a prison?) but they were willing to work with me to help give the kids a fantastic and different style birthday party.

The patio area where we set up the party.  It overlooks this really cool train
 bridge.  BONUS!  :)  The day started out really windy.  We ended up
having to duct tape the tablecloths down.  In a town with 360 days of sunshine
 and beautiful weather per year, I never would have thought that at the
 end of March we'd be cold and windblown!

Our next door neighbor and one of Abby's besties was one of the first to arrive.
Abby and Michelle are both homeschooled, so to have her right next door is super
convenient for those moments when socialization is on Abby's to do list!

Marshall remembered that the gift shop sold these
really cool toy handcuffs from the last time we were here
over a year ago.  He used some of his birthday money to
secure himself a pair and then wore them like a trophy for
the whole party.  That Y chromosome really adds a lot to
someone's personality, doesn't it?

The trains came by a few times during the party and the kids, big
 and little, girl and boy all went running.

We had the Gunslingers who normally perform at the Prison on
Saturdays come do a show for us on Sunday.  I happened to snap
this photo just as he rang out the first shot.  Scared me so much the
picture turned out blurry and a bit sideways.  :D

The show was fairly entertaining, quite comedic and thankfully mostly
appropriate.  ;) 

They assured us they were shooting blanks.
(Not that I could tell from looking at it!)

It was a bit loud.

Right before this photo was taken, one of the gunslingers tried to make
Emily feel better about the noise.... she told him it would take her a while to get
over it. ;) He told her that in the second show, he'd say EMILY before
they shot. It was a great warning to the kids, if not a little tourettes-ish.

The kids all lined up to watch the show.

They also showed us the damage their "blanks" can do.

There were even a few ladies!

Of course the women won!

The Gunslingers with the kids who were brave enough to get close for a picture.

6, 8 and 13?  Just doesn't seem right!

We sang Happy Birthday!

Yep, that's Jeremy holding a baby!  She came prepared
with her own color coordinated ear protection!

We gave the kids some free time to explore
the prison as well.

At the end of the party, Jeremy "pardoned" each of them of the crime
that they'd been accused of committing and sent them on their way.

All in all, a pretty fun day.  Hope the kids will remember their special celebration and know how happy we are to have each of them in our family!