Monday, July 30, 2007

We now return to our regularly scheduled program.

Party Month is now over.

Grace turned four and a good time was had by all.
Lynda's birthday came and went.

Our anniversary was recognized and celebrated.
Sarah turned seven and we just pulled off her Harry Potter birthday party yesterday. (details below . . .)

And, of course, Party Month was also Harry Month. Movies were watched and enjoyed and books were read, reviewed, and enjoyed.
Heck, we even took a brief but enjoyable vacation as well!

So . . . what do we do now?


Well, we can try to find other things to do with our time. It would certainly be a healthy change to try and take a walk at night, after dinner and before we begin the bedtime routine. But Lynda and I are spectacularly unsuccessful as establishing and maintaining such a sensible thing. Instead, we are hell-bent on getting the kids to bed reasonably so we can enjoy a bit of the evening to ourselves, whether that be watching more adult entertainment (quit your dirty thoughts--anything outside of "Little Bear" and "Hannah Montana" is adult fare in this house).


So, if I'm not likely to be exercising my body, maybe I can exercise my mind a bit more. I am currently reading a book that I heard about on "Fresh Air"--Waiting for Daisy by Peggy Orenstein. While you might think that this book is more targeted towards women, I was drawn to it by the frank way that Orenstein describes her slip into obsession and the strain that this put upon her marriage. (Though I know it's impossible to ask you not to, please DON'T read unnecessarily into this book choice. Our marriage is just fine, thanks, and refreshingly obsession-free.)


(Well, Lynda might disagree about the obsession-free part, given my HP fixation for the last several weeks. But, it did generate a pretty good birthday party.)




Ah, yes, the birthday party.


It wasn't extremely crowded with kids and I think that worked out very well. Getting secure attendance at a summertime birthday is always difficult, especially in late July. But, we always try to control the overall number of kids, especially when it is being held at our house. Sarah's outside water party last year was a bit of an exception, but since a lot of it happened outside, it was easier to justify more kids.


But Saturday's party was intended to be an indoor affair. It wasn't as elaborate as some kids parties I've read about, or some adult parties for that matter. But I think we did a pretty good job. Lynda and I decorated the house Friday night once the kids were in bed. I strung some white icicle lights around the circle above our dining room table to give a tip of the cap to the Great Hall, which is often described in the books with magical stars twinkling above at dinnertime.


While Lynda was printing out some signs to signify the different game stations for the party (Sorting Hat badges, Ollivander's Wand Shop, Potions Class) Sarah helped me mix up the potion ingredients. After she went up to bed, I tried to finish my Marauder's Map that would be the last game played.

The party went off very well, as you can hopefully see through all of the links provided. Sarah liked it, Lynda and I were proud of it and the kids all had a good time.

And now I am tired . . . this has been a complicated post and I am worn out for tonight.

***

Next project? Trying to create a graphical representation of the torturous path of the Elder Wand. **SPOILER WARNING if you follow this link.** (Trust me, everyone who's read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows knows what I'm talking about and why clarification is needed.)

2 comments:

Sven Golly said...

Thanks for the warning, Burb. Anything Anne Lamott loves that much is guaranteed to induce gagging. I will steer clear of Daisy. On the other hand, I might hire you to plan my next soire!

David said...

Well, you would know more about Lamott than I, Sven.

I am enjoying the book, though I probably don't find it as mind-expanding as Lamott describes it to be.

And, a word of warning. I'll be glad to shepherd your party, but only if you favor balloons, Pin the Tail on the Donkey, and other kids favorites.