March is Lola’s birthday month. The birthday party for a 7 year old is a little bit more involved than that of an 11-year-old-boy that just wants to watch a movie and play Ninjago** all night long with his friends. All I had to do was throw food at them every once in awhile and make sure that they had changed their underwear in the morning.  What is it with boys??  Charlie ALWAYS comes home from sleepovers with clean underwear IN HIS BACKPACK and when I ask him about it, he’s all like, “Oh yeahhhhh… underwear.  Meh. *shoulder shrug*”

Girls, however, expect a lot more than clean underwear for their parties.  Last year (can you believe it was a year ago already?), we evac’d just before Lola’s sixth birthday so all the plans were tucked away for a rainy day. The rain hasn’t technically arrived yet (I’m expecting the nose bleeds to start any day now because it’s so dry), but the reserves have been dug out to see the light of day. Lola is still at the age where the idea of a themed party remains solidly in play, so I’ve got nearly everything I need to pull off the greatest Club Penguin party ever (well, not the GREATEST – I don’t have the resources to fly in Rockhopper. Don’t think it hasn’t happened, cuz it HAS. I’m in the know.) Some might think that I’m jumping the gun planning a month in advance (the actual party will be early April cuz of details in my life that will BORE you, trust me), but with the lack of craft/dollar stores for party favours and decorations, it’s up to my mind to fire up the creativity. I don’t think clearly under pressure. Ideas need time to sift their way through the cobwebs of my brain and percolate to the surface. And guess what? It’s woooooorking! (Can you hear my sing song voice? Cuz I’m totally sing songin’ it)

Lola loves crafts. Loves Loves Loves them. I don’t so much. It’s a sacrifice for me to sit down and do crafty things with her. I find that it’s like exercise, though. The first step is always the most difficult and once I get into my groove, I actually find myself enjoying it. A couple of weeks ago, Lola begged me to sit with her to make creations out of plastic beads. I conceded to her request because I knew that it was irresponsible parenting to let a current-six-year-old man a searing hot iron on her own. She’s mature, sure. But not that mature. So I sat with her a spell, and then the idea occurred to me: party favours! I could make little creative touches to the treaty bags for Lola’s guests, and then I got excited! Beads were flying! Colours were sorted! A design was born! Little creatures were created profluently!  ”No, Lola! Mama is using the iron. I HAVE TO MAKE PUFFLES!!”

I’m really happy how they turned out! Now I only have a bagazillion more to make. I hope I don’t get stuck to the iron. I no longer have a maid to save me from myself.

**Ninjas was trending as a top searched word today.   That’s how cool Charlie is – he’s on the cutting end of trend, y’all.