Skate Party

So.  DLG got invited to not one, but TWO birthday parties this weekend. Me? I didn't grow up attending all sorts of classmates' parties, and I never had anything larger than a few friends over, but times are what they are.

She was excited about this party, because it was going to be held at a roller-skating rink.  She went skating with her kindergarten class last year and thought it was fun.

When I asked DLG what she wanted as gift for her friend, she quickly answered, "Build-A-Bear gift card!"  (Yes! That's my girl!  And Costco sells a handy discounted 4-pack!!)

The party was fun.  Only four other kids attended (holiday events and all,) but it's never about the quantity but the quality.  I think the party qualified as ENJOYED, by kids and grandparents and aunts and uncles and us parents!  I did what I do better than small-talk; I helped out with set up and clean up.  (Didn't grow up with parties, but have been to a few since I had kids, and I know that parents appreciate the help so they can get back to enjoying the day with their child.)

The birthday girl likes anything "Frozen," so we had plenty of Elsa, Anna and Olaf.  How can snow-magic not be Christmassy???

I'm usually the play-with-the-kids mom, but I really did't feeling like donning a pair of quads.  DLG wanted me to help her skate, or rent her a PVC "stabilizer," but I want her to truly learn to get her balance, falls and all.  I told her that once she learns to not be afraid of falling (it will happen to everyone,) then she'll feel more comfortable skating.  Her friends were mostly wobbly, too, and several parents (and one grandparent) were skating themselves.

Here's my little being helped by an aunt.

Sweetness, isn't it.

But in case a vague reference to Christmas isn't enough, here's something festive from around my house:

Warm footwear that won't roll.

Santa Shoppe

Just call me "sucker."

No, don't.

I wanted to help guide DLG when she did her Christmas shopping at school.  Instead, I found myself volunteering to help most of the kids.

The mom who was chairing this year's Santa Shoppe had so much to deal with.... there were incorrect dates in the newsletter, she first got an incomplete list of teachers, the classes began all sorts of standardized testing that week so schedules were constantly being rearranged....

I merely came in to ask when DLG's class was scheduled, but the secretary hadn't been told.  Claylie asked if I could help Thursday morning, as they were short on volunteers.  I said sure, why not.

Turned out for the best!  I had a great time.  I met some other 1st-grade moms I hadn't met yet, and got to hang out with moms I've known since Pre-K days (GS-MMO & MtG).  It was, when we weren't swamped, quite the "hen party."  (Carl'd never heard that term before!)

It was fun, but sometimes heartbreaking to help the kids chose gifts.  The company that creates & ships this concept has seriously over-priced this dollar-store-type merchandise.  But, you pay for convenience and for labor.  I doubt anyone is getting rich on this.  Some kids looked so disappointed when they had to rethink what they thought were the best choices for family and friends.  Yeah.... all us moms did "slip" some kids a buck or two, or several quarters, to help out.

Then there were the kids with adequate money and determined to spend every last quarter!  (I say adequate; for some it was "lots," like $20--$40, since it saved mom a trip to the store; for others, it was enough to get everyone gifts, even if the gifts were only $1 each.)

All and all, it was fun.  Next year, and yes, I likely will help next year, we hope we can ask the company to provide more items $2 and less and nothing over $8-$10.  Not sure if we have an option, but we saw what did work.  We'll also have to schedule it for more days with fewer classes each day (the younger they were, the more likely they were to shop the $2 and under merchandise, while the older kids either had adequate money or gladly didn't participate.)  With more standardized testing, we will HAVE to pin-down the testing days to be able to have a solid schedule.

Sigh, Lizzie-the-mostly-organized is on the case.....

Oh, and I'm very proud of DLG.  She only bought 2 things this year (I try to do the shopping for them, for my sanity's sake....)  She bought a cute rubber duck for her teacher.  And a surprise for me!

I cannot wait for Christmas!

A Christmas Dance

My daughter loves her ballet class.  As a treat to the parents, each class performs a Christmas Dance for us.  She was so excited to show us how well she could "Jingle Bell Rock"!  Like I was, she is quick to learn the routine and be on mark & cue.  She still working on the do-not-think part of dancing, but she'll smile more and more as the years go on. This is only year number two.

When they showed off their jetés, sautés and classical walks, we noted that DLG kept herself in alignment-- head to neck to shoulders to back to hips to knees to feet.  Ah, she is becoming a wonderful dancer!  We are glad she enjoys it so!