AARP

I'm a little concerned- I just got sent membership cards to AARP- well, the fake kind that they send to get you to sign up. But, I only just turned 40- I'm not anywhere near retirement. What are they thinking?

Brownies

Last year, Leila was a Daisy- that's the first year of girls scouts. This year, she's moving on up to Brownies- so she asked me, "If when we were Diasies we came from the garden, now do we come from the kitchen?"
Our first troop meeting is today- it's kind of a big deal- I'm the leader.
Oh help. This is scarier than giving a lecture on postmodern/postdocumentary women artists of the Picture's Generation to a roomful of university students and one well read professor.

Spring Break Plans

Works For Me Wednesday- Backwards Edition: Any ideas on how to get a kid that is sleeping with his parents back into his own bed? Said kid wakes up whining for milk or a hand to scratch/hold during the wee hours, driving his mother and father to the brink of insanity and beyond!
He was sleeping by himself for a while, but came back into our bed during the cold of winter. Now I am done with it! Next week is my Spring Break, and this is one of my tasks: Get Ali, who is almost 3, into his own bed!
After that we'll tackle getting rid of his pacifier.

Kids Birthday Parties

Leila had two more birthday parties last weekend. Last year we went to mostly home birthday parties, with the exception of Chucky Cheese parties. We saw 2 different princesses at those parties- Cinderella and Belle- and a magician.
This year, Leila has had two home birthday parties in moderately big homes. One had a polka-dot theme (very fun!) and the other was a princess tea party in an elegantly decorated dining room, where the 4 and 5 year-olds got to use real china teacups, and the 6-year-old brother danced with all of the little princesses. The rest of this year's parties have been venue parties. You'll remember the 3 Chucky Cheese parties. In addition, she's been to:
Slappy's Playhouse (the kids get to watch a show)
A gymnastics party
A paint your own pottery party
A swimming party
A bounce house party
They were all scads of fun, and minimal work for the parents. So, I started thinking, maybe this is the way to go this year. How much could it cost? ALOT! I'm not spending $160 minimum (closer to 200 or 300) on Leila's birthday party! HELP!!!
We always hold Leila's party at home and pray for good weather. Sometimes, like last year, our prayers weren't answered, so we crammed all the children and adults into our tiny house, and just ventured out for a muddy treasure hunt. The year before Leila had a dressup Princess party which we held partially outside, and the year before that was a teddy tea party which was outside. Her first birthday party was outside, too, but of course that was for our friends as most 1-year parties are.
Leila really liked the bounce house option, but most of the time she is happy to have a party at our house. The problem this year is that there are oodles of kids to invite. I need some ideas for themes, games, activities, etc. that we can do in the backyard if the weather is nice, and inside if it isn't. (Did I mention my house is tiny?) I anticipate about 12 kids, if not more, both boys and girls. And I'm very DIY. I'm trying to plan it for a weekend that my parents are in town. Won't that be fun Mom and Dad?
Update: This was our topic at dinner last night. I think we have decided on a "mariposa" theme, as in Barbie Mariposa. Leila really wanted mermaids, but that was sooo last year. We thought we can make wings and crowns when everyone arrives, and have a tent in the back yard, and a tea-party. I still need some good games though. Poor boys, I think they aren't going to be invited after all.