For a Song and Dance

Julia had her friend birthday party this weekend.  We had a little bit more of the shenanigans that we had when David's friend party was a few weeks after his actual birthday.  Julia excitedly said to her brothers this morning that she got to choose her balloon first because it was HER birthday and David (remember Mr. Dramatic?) said, "Julia, it. is. NOT. your. birthday!" Julia sobbed and said "mom, David says this is NOT my birthday party, that it is someone else's birthday party...waaaaah!" So I explained that while it is not her actual birthday, it is her birthday party and so we will pretend it is her birthday today.  To which Julia said, "then I am turning five today and I get to chew gum whenever I want!"  Very reminiscent of this conversation...It's like groundhog's day around here.

I think I have coordinated around 15 birthday parties now and this was one of my favorites.  My criteria is that it is easy for the parents (I don't want to be the one entertaining all of the kids for 1.5 hours) and fun for the kids.  Added bonus points if it is at a place we haven't been to 15 times already, but then again, we have had some fun parties at very popular places when the kids simply insisted they really, really wanted it there.  (Pump It Up, I'm talking about you, here.)  This party was at the Pied Piper Music Studio, which offers KinderMusik classes and piano lessons on a piano purchased for $75, painted yellow and affectionately known as Goldie (wish I had a picture to share here, because it was awesome.)  Julia was super excited about this party and seemed to love every minute of it.  She got to play a drum, strum a guitar, string a necklace and (my favorite) pretend she was cleaning (see those pink dusting mitts in the picture below?...I think we will be getting some for our house.)  Here's to four, in all of its glory.