I invited my daughter's field hockey team here for a pregame pasta party earlier this season.  About 15 girls showed up direct from practice--and they all brought their appetites.

That was good, because I didn't want leftovers.

After they all finished devouring baked ziti, meatballs, and Italian bread--and leaving not one brownie crumb in the pan, but ignoring the banana-walnut bread completely--they set about having some serious fun.

Mr. Third Grader keeps a bunch of toys in some baskets on our back porch.  These include Nerf guns, light sabers, swords and shields, and Tinker Toys (which are usually made into guns or swords).  The girls decided that they weren't too dignified, or too old, to enjoy battling with light sabers and pool noodles.  When their moms came to pick them up, these girls were reluctant to put down their Nerf weapons and pick up their designer handbags before heading home.

(And that picture above is no stock photo--that's their team.  My daughter is the one in the yellow shirt.  As she loves to live dangerously, she plays goalie.)

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