Birthday party weekend

Sorry I have written in a few days, I've been trying to get caught up on life; a virtually impossible task in my world, but I try anyway. Sometimes it’s the journey not the destiny, right?

We had a birthday party weekend this weekend. Two of my sons had parties to attend on Saturday and we were having my youngest son's party on Sunday. Normally this would not be too much of an issue but this weekend we had some logistical issues. This was mostly because my husband was working a double this Saturday (meaning he had to be at work by 10:30 AM and wouldn't be home till around 2:00 AM). The first party was scheduled for 10:00 AM - Noon and the second party was scheduled for Noon-2:00 PM. Fortunately, it turned out that the first party was being held at a laser Tag place near my husband's work, so he took our second son and dropped him at his party while I fed and dressed the other four, got a shower (leaving the 12 year old in charge for a few minutes - I think he's on a power trip - make a mental note to talk with him about that when we get back), put the diaper bag together, wrapped the present (thank God for gift bags) and went on the great shoe hunt. After finding and getting everyone's shoes on, it was time to head out to the second party. This party was at a bowling alley. It is a very fun place with loud dance music, black lights and lots of arcade games. However, I have to walk in with four kids, get one settled in and bowling shoes on and some how manage to get the other three back out to the car in under 15 minutes, so I can get to the restaurant to pick up my second child from my husband (He had picked up our second son and taken him back to work with him). This is process is something like herding cats. I finally get three children back in the van when my cell phone starts ringing. It's my second child calling to announce he's at work with Dad and he's bored. “When are you getting here to pick me up?" I get there about 20 minutes later to pick him. My oldest then announces he's hungry again.

Oldest child: “Can’t we stay here and have lunch?"
Mom: "No. We had this discussion in the car. We have just enough time to pick up your brother, get back in the van and go back to the bowling alley to pick up your youngest brother."
Oldest child: "But I'm hungry."
Mom: "How can you be hungry we just had breakfast an hour ago?"
Oldest child: “Well, I am. I'm a growing boy you know. "
Dad: "You want a turkey sandwich to eat in the car?"
Oldest Child: "Sure."
Mom: “Can I get a Coke to go? I need some caffeine."

So, we get everyone some food, me some soda and get back in the van. We get to the bowling alley a little before the party is supposed to end, which gets my other four started on "Can we bowl?"
Mom: “Maybe some other time"
Kids: "But mom it looks like fun. Can we bowl? "
Mom: “Not today"
Kids: "But we want to bowl."
Mom: "No. Go see what your brother is doing." This always buys me a little time. I then talk with a couple of the other moms about how fast they are all growing and answer the "How many do you have again?" question.

Oh, the kids are back.

Kids: "Mom, can we go bowling?" Like we never had the previous conversation.
Mom: "Not today. Another time. We need to go home and clean up the house and get ready for your brother's party tomorrow. "
Kids: "But I didn't make the mess."
Mom: "Neither did I, but someone needs to clean it up."
Kids: "Mom, that’s not fair."
Mom: “Well, unless you can find the gremlins who made the mess we need to clean it up.”
Kids: “Mooom.”
Mom: “No we need to go soon.”


Thankfully at this point the overhead lights are turned on and a voice announces party time is over.

Mom: " Oh, darn. Time to go. They have the next set of birthday parties starting and there's no room for us. We'll come another day"

At this point goodie bags are passed out and thoughtful friends that I have had made extras for all of my children. Now I didn't have to go through the "Mom, make him share" argument while trying to drive. Although, maybe I take this thought back. These same thoughtful people have put party horns in each of the bags, so now I'm driving down the road with five children armed with party horns.

The party horns got confiscated by the time we reach the first stop light.

Now I need to at least make my house presentable for the party the next day, so I go on the mad cleaning dash. And I start with the playroom. I start here for two reasons: 1. This is always the messiest room and 2. The washing machine overflowed last night and flooded this room. Oh, did I mention my washer is acting up. Apparently the sensor that tells the machine that it has enough water is occasionally not working causing the machine to overflow into the playroom. Now this has only happened twice, once last week and last night. Of course, there is always some sort of plumbing problem right before guests arrive at our house. The repair man announced everything looked fine to him last week. Well apparently it's not. Fortunately, I had not put the area rugs back down in the playroom after last week's incident so I don't have to drag an 8 x 10 wet rug out of the house and throw it over the swing set again. I'm sure my neighbors love that look. Anyway, I spent my Saturday evening feeding children, changing diapers and cleaning the house.

Wooo, hooo! What an exciting life I have.

This morning I got up and did the grocery run for the food for the party. We set up the table and the food downstairs in the family room, which is right next to the playroom so this will keep the kids contained. Or so I think.

The party went well. We only had one casualty. One of my son's friends thought he'd be funny by dunking his French fries in his soda can. I had just told him to stop when he started crying because he cut his finger. Some cold water and a band-aid and we're all back together.

The boys spent the afternoon alternating between playing video games and climbing the trees in the back yard. I had a couple of organized activities but those went over like a led balloon. "Mom, we're playing." That's fine; less work for me and the football game is on.

My husband and I sit in the family room and keeping one eye on the kids playing out the window and the other eye on the game. A couple of times the kids came in to find out why we were yelling at the TV. Kind of an interesting reversal, but they were happy to hear our team was winning.

Most everything is cleaned up now. Although, the picnic table is still in the family room. I guess I'll take care of that tomorrow. It was a good day and after the post party clean up I'm getting to enjoy a fairly clean house. All of the kids are asleep and my husband's not home yet. All is peaceful and life is good.

Oh! I forgot to talk with the 12 year old about his power trip .... I'd better write myself a note or read my own blog ...