Rylan's Birthday

Rylan's 8th birthday was Thursday, June 28th.  Last year he took Hudson and Whit to a baseball game and this year he decided he's like to take the same friends to a Nashville Soccer Club game.  Gray and I gave up our tickets so the friends could go (Gray didn't get that memo and was crazy upset that he wasn't going!).

The only game around his birthday that his friends could make was the one on Tuesday, June 26th.  Unfortunately both Carter and Rylan had baseball games that night.  We got Rylan's moved to the early slot and had the boys leave their games a little early.  While they were playing, I picked up pizza and Hudson and Whit.  They got to watch Carter and Rylan play a little baseball and then we loaded up everyone in the minivan for Brian to take them to the soccer game.  I had decorated the car with balloons and they ate pizza on the drive up.

Brian got to play a Plinko game and won a scarf for Rylan.

Popcorn!

The boys took a walk to the berm to watch the game from there for a bit.

The birthday treat was Icees!

The highlight for the boys was playing games in the bar area after the soccer game on their way towards the exit :)

Rylan had a lot of fun and was happy to celebrate with his friends!

Gray and I got to watch the game on TV (though it took him almost an hour to stop crying about not being there in person!).

On Thursday Rylan woke up to his birthday presents in front of the fireplace.  His big gift was a new bike!

After swim team practice, we picked up three of Rylan's friends to go bowling and to lunch.  He invited Chace (who was in his class this year), Luc (who is on his indoor soccer team this summer and Rylan knows from recess), and Carson (who has been on Rylan's baseball team for a few seasons and also goes to our school).  And the balloons were still up :)

Everyone enjoyed bowling - except Rylan for the majority of the time because everyone had a spare (or strike) and he didn't get one until ninth frame of the second game.  I think he ultimately enjoyed it but he was very moody and didn't hide it.

This kid was pretty cute in his bowling shoes :)

From left to right ... Luc, Carson, Carter, Rylan, and Chace.

After bowling two games, I drove everyone to Chick-fil-A.  It is always packed there but we lucked out and hit it during a little lull and got two booths together.  After everyone ate, I busted out the brownies I had made at home and brought with us :)  Rylan wasn't too excited about everyone singing to him at Chick-fil-A!

That afternoon, we had a little down time, took Gray to his Lil Sluggers class, and then met Brian for dinner by his old office.  Rylan picked Newk's for dinner and then afterwards we went to Jeni's Ice Cream (a ridiculously expensive place) to get Rylan's free birthday scoop and use a gift card Brian had gotten from work for his birthday.

I'm pretty sure Rylan enjoyed his special day and everything he got to do with his friends.  Happy Birthday!!!