Last Friday night, I put on a lock-in at our church. It was something fun for our kiddos on their last night of Spring Break.
We rented an inflatable obstacle course. (fun for lil' and BIG kids!)
We had a visit from Buzzington!
The kids LOVED him and hugged him and fed him his bottle. It was sweet. A definite highlight!
I decided to go with a theme and titled it Big Top Lock-In...and, of course, had decorations to match...
and goody boxes.
I just can't help myself.
20+ kids ranging in age from 6-12. 13 hours. All after a full days work and month's worth of little sleep due to working on the house (house update coming later this week. promise.).
What WAS I thinking?
I must have been outta my mind. It was enough to drive a person to drinking.
Theoretically, but of course we were at church...just scratch that.
Actually, it was fun.
We stayed up ALL night, seriously...ALL NIGHT...I had 3 girls who made it their goal in life (accompanied by a 5 dollar bet from a few of the boys...yeah, first drinking and now gambling).
They almost made it. Just minutes from success. These were taken at 7:05, a mere 55 minutes before the lock-in was over. However, they still beat the boys, who fell asleep at 5:00. They were absolutely giddy when they peeped into the "quiet room" and found the boys snoring.
I played Candy Land about 17 times. No lie. I'm pretty much a professional now.
I used to kiss boys at lock-ins.
Maybe that's why I made sure there was an adult in EVERY room at all times. I'm paranoid. No kissing at church on my watch!
Look at these little sleeping angels.
Some of them asked me when we could have another one and I said "next year". They started whining and complaining that we should have one EVERY week. Psh. Yeah, right.
The best part? Yummy hot donuts in the morning...
That's how I roll.
Have you been to a lock-in before? Recently? Any favorite lock-in memories?
Love and Rockets,
jennykate
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28 comments...I love comments:
I just poured myself another big glass of wine after reading this.
They had "all night skates" when I was a tween, but even then I knew I wouldn't be able to do it.
They have a Grad Night for the graduating Seniors at the high school where they lock 'em in to keep them off the streets. You would not BEE-LEEEVE what some of those kids try to do... And their dance floor?! Geez! I needed a shower after chaperoning that stuff! (SO GLAD I DON'T HAVE GIRLS!)
this looks like a whole lot of fun!! so many adorable details. i love it!
just think of all the memories made that night and YOU made it possible.
or impossible...depending on the memory, you might have messed up a first kiss you know...but that's ok.
That looks like fun, for other folks. Son has shown no interest in them, thank goodness!
I've said it before, I'll say it again...GIRL, YOU ARE AMAZING. JUST WOW! Thanks for making such fun memories for the kids!
Ha- I laughed when you said something would "drive you to drink"
ya right.
I think I went to a lock-in when I was a teen, but it's all really fuzzy back then...plus I have only had one cup of coffee so far this am....
~Becca
Ha- I laughed when you said something would "drive you to drink"
ya right.
I think I went to a lock-in when I was a teen, but it's all really fuzzy back then...plus I have only had one cup of coffee so far this am....
~Becca
LOL...keep them up all night, sugar them up and send them home...priceless. Looks like such a fun time. That was so sweet of you to do all of that in the midst of your chaos. I'm sure they won't forget it (and will continue to bug you about the next one!).
We always did midnight bowling for our lock-ins, makes the time fly! I hope you were able to crash on Saturday!
After reading about your adventure, I must say, "YOU ROCK!" You are far more woman than I am, that's for sure! I know that you were probably pooped completely out, but just think about all the memories you helped to make...many that will be talked about for a long time to come! :)
Cute pictures!
My mom made me go to some kind of church lockup once. It also involved fasting, as in, not eating. I remember being so hungry I couldn't sleep. It was horrible.
Kudos to you! I am way too old and very grouchy when I'm tired, to do ANY staying up late, much less ALLL night! Yikes!
Looks like it was a success though
You are SO brave and so fun! And now I want donuts desperately. :)
looks like so much fun. exhausting but fun. did you stay up the whole time too? or did y'all take shifts?
Girl...you know I totally kissed face with some boys at the First Baptist lock-ins. They were very under-chaperoned. SA-WEET!
I love your theme! It was set up so cute! Goodie boxes were a good idea! But I need to know...did Buzzington poo in the church?
I NEED a donut in my life. FO REAL. It's been waaaay too long. And a hot one? Mmmmm.
That looks like a lot of fun...and work! Kudos to you for doing all that.
And is kissing at church really that bad? I do it every Sunday! Well, at least I'm married to the guy I kiss. LOL! Not to worry though, I had my fair share of kissing in the church before though. Oops. ;)
How have I never heard of this Lock-In? This is amazing! You are very brave and very fun. :)
how fun I used to love going to lock ins looks like you did a great job
I bet they had so much fun!
Never been to a lock in before..looks like I really missed out too!
Very cool! I would have loved that as a kid.
Tell us more about Daylight Donuts.
You even go all out on Lock-In parties. Seriously, you should start a biz. I want to invited to any and all parties you throw.
I'm so glad you all had fun. You make me smile. =)
I'm not sure what you were thinking but I'm thinking you are a BRAVE woman! And a smart one ... that no kissing at church on your watch thing and all! :)
The only time I did a lock in was our "all night graduation party." And the theme was Monte Carlo so we had lots of gambling.
Then we got bored, left the lock out at around 5 in the morning and found some Boone's....never mind.
It was fun!! We loved it!! Super cool!!
Buy that?
What were you thinking? JK....you made some awesome memories for those kids! They don't do lock-ins around here until jr. high. I went to a couple in high-school and chaperoned one a couple years ago....I don't function on no sleep...don't know if I could ever do it again.
Never had a lock-in. Just keep it all in perspective... at least it wasn't at Chuck E. Cheese.
Oh, JK! Lock-ins are the best. In fact, I was just explaining it to Sam b/c he heard about one at our church. I can't wait until he's old enough! So much fun!
Sounds like an awesome lock in! I am trying to remember if I've been to one and I think maybe one at the YMCA. I went to a different church for youth because our church didn't have one. I think that's who sponsored it.
You are a super rockstar!!! We used to do these when I was a cheerleader... shhhh don't tell anyone I was a cheerleader. We would stay all night & decorate the halls with banners. I was the rebel cheerleader so we would also pull pranks in the teachers classrooms... shhhh don't tell that either.
Oh & my gradnight lock-in... that was FUUUN! I wanna go back & do it all again.
You and your parties. I have party-planning envy.
You're like a party-planning rockstar.
Can I have your autograph?
I'm with mamarazzi...what fabulous memories were created, all thanks to you!
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