The plan was to have all the boys go to the local swimming pool to celebrate Matthew's birthday.  However, the pool didn't know if they would be open in the afternoon on Matthew's birthday since the public schools have all started here.

So, Matthew decided to have a Civil War Birthday Party. I found a website for a place where you could go and actually have a Civil War Birthday Party, but we live in California, not in the South. How do you have a Civil War Birthday Party in California?

Matthew created invitations using Publisher. He re-created a flyer we received at a Civil War re-enactment we went to in the spring. We decided to serve hardtack (homemade pizza) and moldy cornbread (cookies and cream ice cream cake). Some of the boys came in costume with weapons. Matthew found a blue blazer at a thrift store and decorated it with yellow duct tape. They all had a great time having 'battles' in the backyard. I'm glad they all had some good, clean, boy fun.