[If you recognize a photo here you'd like removed, please message me. Everyone in this post has my number. In an effort to keep accessibility but promote viewership among people I know or those who will be friends, this blog is not search-able. It is "public," meaning that anyone with the URL can view it. I avoid using names to promote privacy, while at the same time recognizing there are things my kids will remember only if I record them here -- good memories that they'll want to keep. This year has shown me the fragility of life, how precious each moment is, and why we cannot take moments for granted. My condition, placenta accreta, recently had a 7% maternal mortality rate attached to it -- 7% among antepartum diagnoses, higher for those diagnosed at childbirth. Though my doctors think my chances of coming through are more like 99% -- and I'm not truly anticipating death -- death is something that can come with conditions like mine. With that in mind, I'm sharing this really wonderful party we threw for our kids' 6th & 8th birthdays. It's the best time we've had in a long while!]
The Engineer asked for a party just like his favorite classmate's with a bounce house, grilled cheeseburgers, and just a couple of families at our home. He compromised by allowing invites to anyone who overlapped with his sister's classmates and their families.
I spent a lot of time thinking about how to keep the event sanitary, which was a concern of mine long before the pandemic. Keeping the food inside at bar-height and removing all the stools to prevent toddler fingers in the food were two things we did to promote good hygiene. I also put out hand sanitizer bottles with encouraging signs to promote washing one's hands before eating.
Of course, I knew my former seminarian husband would recall immediately that section in Mark where the Pharisees ask Jesus why he did not perform the ceremonial handwashing before eating. However, we have every reason to believe that Jesus normally followed the Hebrew practices of the time, which would have included washing His hands before eating. There is no context given for that Biblical event. (So thanks for rolling with it, DH! ;)
We put everything else outside: tables, chairs, bounce house, etc. (And I ate before everyone came b/c I seem to catch every norovirus, cold virus, etc. that goes around.) And after all that, we prayed that everyone stay healthy and that the event serve as an encouragement and joy for all who come. God is good! +
When we returned to school on Monday, the Firstborn commented that we were parked next to 3 people who were at our party. He was really touched and happy that we were making good friends, a process that can't be rushed. Two years in, and he's seeing progress.
Some people came who surprised me based on assumptions I made that I wasn't cool enough for them; but the phrase played over in my head, "Invite them and they will come." I think there's some truth to that. Not many people want to host; but many are willing to attend.
"Why did you cover your ears?" -DH
"Because it was loud." -Engineer
The Engineer did a great job overall and did not require a break.
This photo makes me happy. We have a good community here:
Pop Pop bought everyone bubbles, which were a big hit.
The mob mentality is strong in our home:
Our pastor joined us. The bounce house folks told me that the house could hold adults -- and that I could go into there with my kids. Not that I wanted to induce labor! But their point was that it was a super high-quality bounce house made in the U.S.A. I'm not sure if I should be proud or offended, haha!
These two decided to go all "Rat Pack" on us until their shirts required changes. I'm not sure how the toothpicks blended, but I rolled with it.
Such sweet friends we are making:
