Day o' fun

I'm wicked (feel like using Bostonian-speak) behind with blogging right now, which is why you are reading about the weekend before Memorial Day weekend instead of Memorial Day weekend.  So for this particular weekend, Rich had planned to golf (all day Saturday) and have dinner with his brothers and brothers-in-law that evening.  This was a post-wedding bachelor thing for his brother, Chris.  Now, I'm cool with Rich having some alone time.  He hasn't been able to golf at all this year and he completely deserved a day to himself.

The girls were invited to two birthday parties for that very same day.  I kind of grumbled about having to take them to two parties by myself but really, if you are going to be stuck trying to entertain three 5 year olds for the day, attending two birthday parties is the way to go.

So, of course, the night before, I was up puking at 3 in the morning.  Thankfully, I wasn't sick (this happens to me here and there - tmi to explain) but it took a lot out of me.  The next morning, I felt off and we didn't have presents for the parties.  Have you ever taken three 5 year old girls to the store to purchase presents for a birthday party?  They are indecisive, have very little concept of money and if they don't pick out the presents, I will NEVER hear the end of it.  I think I may have muttered, "I don't care what the {bleep} you want.  Pick out one of these or these.  I am not spending $300 here."

The first party was from 1:00 to 3:00.

The second party was from 3:00 to 5:00.

The first party was a bubble party.  The mom even went so far as to mix some type of paint with bubble stuff and hang paper along the fence so that the kids could create artwork with popped paint bubbles.  Well, all the kids decided to finger paint.  And by finger painting, I mean dunking hands in the paint/bubble mixture and then running over to smack them on the paper.

By the time we left, the girls were covered in paint (most of it washed out, not on the shoes though) and sticky bubble mix.  We stopped at home so that I could cath Anna and hose them down in shower.  The second party was much more relaxed.  A small group of girls all wearing cute sundresses and a princess bounce house.  Thank goodness.  I needed a break.

It was interesting to watch them interact with other kids their own age.  I like how their classmates can tell them apart or if they can't, they'll ask.  "Are you Allie?"  "Are you Anna?"  There are fraternal twins - one in Anna's class and one in Emily's class - named Anna and Emma.  How funny is that?  And yes, Anna is in Anna's class.  At the first party, Emma walked up to the girls and immediately said hi to Emily.  I like how they are treated as individuals.

Allie's BFF Claire was at the second party and she played with all three of my girls.  There was one of those little cars that you sit on that rides down a ramp.  Do you know what I'm talking about?  It's for toddlers but the kids were playing on it.  Claire would carry the car to the top of the ramp and give the girls a push down.  Anna was afraid to go on it at first and when she did decide to ride, Claire said that she would hold Anna's hand and run along side.  Now, I was standing right there (helicopter parent) and no one was ever in danger of getting hurt but Allie actually said, "Uh, I don't know about this, Claire.  This is making me nervous."  She's such a little mom sometimes.

Allie with morning eyes and one of her faces.



We hoard save gift bags and reuse them.  I was in the laundry room for 5-10 minutes putting in a load, which takes me a bit because I pre-treat stains.  I walked out to discover a buddy birthday party already in progress.




They had filled the gift bags with their toys and the buddy/doll/animal giving the gift is in front of the bag.




It wrapped all around the kitchen cabinets.




Allie had me braid her wet hair the night before so that she could have fuzzy hair for the parties.




Another Allie face...




The inside of a birthday card Anna made.  She was driving me flipping crazy and then I saw her draw this and I stepped outside of myself for a moment and filled up with patience.




On Sunday, we participated in a walk to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Allie and Anna




Our used $200 $150 (correction by Rich) triple jogger was probably the best piece of "baby gear" we purchased.  I love how the girls are trying to hide under their hats even though they are surrounded by family.  And Allie and Em pulled the shoulder straps on but they aren't fastened.









***

They reset the vote count over at TBB.  I don't need to be number #1 again but I would like to have my blog listed on the first page.  Thank you for your support.