Thir-TEEN

Today Connor officially became a teenager and literally celebrated it with a bang.  First it was celebrated with the ultimate gift Connor could ever receive...

For Connor, there's no better way to turn thirteen than to celebrate it with your very own private stash of thirteen boxes of your very own cereal. 


Then, with the help of our friends the Sharps, he was inducted into his teens in a swirl of gunfire and gas.

First on the birthday agenda was some serious go-kart racing.

Earlier that day, Mont set up a challenging race course at their family's tarp shop and turned their massive warehouse floor into
a giant slick kart track.

The boys division was a serious event...

 

Between the Sharps and Skillmans go-karts, there was always one that was pulling into the pits for repairs.  It seems they weren't really designed for the aggressive rough-housing we put them through over the years.

 

Among the aggressive racers, Connor and Rob are all-stars.  Here they are after they crashed while trying to squeeze each other out in a tight turn.  They knocked the conveyer belt down and one of them ran over Rob's sleeve...

 Which somehow managed to rip off his shirt sleeve but leave his arm unscathed!

 Rob then decided his sleeve made a nice racing headband.

And the girls races were even more competitive...

Let's just say that you do not want to underestimate the moms.  

Deanne and I were willing to run over more sleeves 

if necessary to cross the finish line FIRST.

After a serious battle of go-carts it was time for Nerf Wars!

Here's Team Skillman:

...and Team Sharp:

oh, and thanks guys...

nice touch shooting me right after I took this photo.

But I suppose that's what happens when you're embedded

in a war zone, there's a large possibility you'll get shot 

by UNfriendly fire.

Chloe and Mark were locked and loaded...

Kayleigh uses the shop supplies as a barricade:

Brock Sharp hides in the industrial shelving:

While Nick prefers an all out assult:

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Chloe:

 

Mitchell prefers a high point from which to snipe:

(he was pretty good at picking off people 

with his homemade blow dart contraption.)

Connor chose a unique way to 

both conseal himself from the enemy

and shield himself from darts:

No surprise here,

The Skillmans win the battle!

 Round two, three, four, and five got more serious:

 More sniping was involved:

This time by Brandon on the scissor lift.

And really really long range missile launching

by Mont was involved too:

 

This method was FAST and FURIOUS.

But once again, the Skillmans prevailed.

Our little Nerf-Capture-the-Flag ended in Skillman victory!

  

Not a bad way to turn 13.

Happy Birthday Con-Man!

The victory feast was pizza and an awesome ice cream and oreo cake made by Deanne.  Once again, the Sharps know how to throw an awesome party!