The past few weeks have been nice as things have calmed down. Now that we're moved into the house and are taking a break from major house projects we've been able to get back into a routine of normalcy a little.
Last week we enjoyed celebrating Ira's 3rd birthday! He chose a train theme, and after inviting some old friends from the ward we just moved from, I decided on a whim to send an open invitation to our entire new ward. According to RSVP's we had 45-50 people come, but it may have been more than that with uncounted siblings and spouses. It was really fun, and PACKED. Below are some lessons learned from the experience, for my own party throwing record. Don't feel bad for skipping or skimming.
1. Our house isn't the tiny apartment we're used to, but 50 people is a little over sane capacity. :)
2. If you are going to make a train cake again, add a face. I probably spent 3 hours on this bad boy (the fondant was being uncooperative), and when Ira saw it, he looked totally disappointed. When I asked him what was the matter, he said, "Where's the face??" So in about two minutes I added a little face and he was suddenly in cake heaven. You can see it below if you squint really hard.
2. It doesn't matter what the cake looks like, just as long as it has Oreos stuck on it. Those things must be like preschooler cocaine. You would've thought that some kids' lives depended on getting a cookie piece or not.
3. Having kids make their own pizzas is a great activity...for about 3-10 kids, not 30. Actually they all seemed to enjoy it. This lesson is more for the sanity of the host.
4. Our fire alarms are extremely over sensitive. They went off about 6 times. Hurry and get an over the range microwave with a vent and fan.
5. Repeat Balloon Pit activity. Although we felt a little bad that no-one really had a seat, or that our hanging rod wasn't even up in the closet for people's coats, there are a few benefits to having no furniture when throwing a party this big. The Balloon Pit was one of those. Every time I went down to check on the kids, there was probably about 20 of them going wild with the balloons.
6. Also repeat painter's tape train tracks, moving box "round-house" and "box-box carts" for kids to sit in and drive around the tracks.
7. Less successful were the structured games I had planned earlier for a smaller group. Pin the Engine on the Train, and Train Train Caboose will work well another year for 3-10 kids...not 30.
All in all, I think the party went o.k. It made me really excited to get to know people in our new ward. There are loads of married students with cute kids. We know a couple of them from BYU, and are already getting to know some others. And since we moved just minutes out of our old ward, we feel blessed to have our old friends so accessible.
Ira was excited to get some sugary cereal for his birthday as well as a tiger bank (for the initiation of allowance getting), and of course a few train toys.
Eliot has been a trooper. He just got his 4th tooth and has been kind of grumpy lately. We're trying to teach Ira not to try and pick up Eliot or move him around using his neck.
In other news, we've quarantined ourselves for the past two days. Friday night we went to bed feeling pretty normal, but then Ira threw up several times between 12:30 and 3:30, and now each of us has gotten the bug to some extent...all accept Eliot that is. Finger's crossed. I still can't get that kid to eat solids, even when his stomach is normal.
I'm preparing a lesson for a little preschool coop/ "joy-school" that a couple of friends and I are starting. I forgot how easily enthused I am about lesson planning for this age group, and just teaching in general. It'll be fun.
So that's life. We're keeping many of you in our prayers.
Peace out!
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