Backyard Beach Birthday Bash

After 2 performances today I rushed home and got ready to host 21 six to ten year olds for The May Queen' 7th birthday party. Whew. Shark Fin and Beach Umbrella Cupcakes. I stole the idea from Martha Stewart. Easy and fun. The kids loved them.

Surfer Girl.

I took a picture of every kid "surfing" on this boogy board (on a surf of blue bedsheets). The shark, of course, came from my personal collection. We'll use the pictures for thank you notes. (and yes, I did have the Best of the Beach Boys CD playing in the background, why do you ask?)


Most of the kids cheated at limbo, but they still loved it.


We played several water games, including "fill the milk jug by squeezing the sponge." The kids seemed to like this one the best, oddly enough.


Presents were, of course, the highlight for The May Queen. I wish I could convince her otherwise, but she is still all about the loot. She did enjoy the whole party, though. I did, too. So did all the kids.

Success, all around.

Totally Tubular Mystery Party

Songlist:

1. Everybody Dress Up Tonight
2. Totally Trivia

3. You dropped a clue on me, baby

4. not so Safe to Dance

5. Eat It

6. Everybody was Verbal Sparring

7. Rubik's Cube to the Head

8. Who killed Alligator Dundee?

9. Careless Accusations

10. Pretty in Pink cake

11. Confessions

12. Celebration

13. You can leave your ears on

Lead vocalists: Alligator Dundee and Jessica Bunny

Backup vocals: Ladonna, Lindy Lauper, Toni Oregeno, Debbie Gribson, Nozzy Nozzborn and Wee Pee Vermon

The band: Danny Son on drums, Nork from Pork on "the special button", Louie Skullnick on keyboard, and El Vampira on Guitar

Produced by Polly Abdool and Spunky Brewster at Scabface studios in Miami, FL.

Special thanks to the makers of Ibuprofen for the suppression of fever and Howard Scott for special effect howls.

***

Alligator Dundee, Jessica Bunny and this post appear courtesy of Monday Missions. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write a post in the form of CD liner notes. If you write a post, please link to your post in the widget below. (and yes, we did a murder mystery dinner party this weekend, with an 80s theme, and it was like, totally awesome, dude).

Join us next week when your mission will be to write a post in the style of a bill.

Also, I am declaring December a nostalgic month. Let me know what your favorite past mission was (one you want to try again, or one you missed and wish you had done) and I'll resurrect a month's worth of past missions. You can browse through all my past missions here. December Missions will be listed next Monday!

Plan a Party Workout

It happens to the best of mothers once a year for each child they have, the time when all that baby birthing forces them to come to grips with the workout they must face: Planning a Birthday Party. We all get a little flabby when we're out of practice, so follow this workout planning guide to see you through this year's workout.

Choose a theme
Muscle(s) worked out: creativity

Search the internet for ideas
Muscle(s) worked out: research

Purchase supplies
Muscle(s) worked out: Budgeting, spoiling, shopping

Make invitations
Muscle(s) worked out: creativity, friendship building, research, design

Wait for (not particularly forthcoming) RSVPs
Muscle(s) worked out: Patience

Prepare home for party
Muscle(s) worked out: cleaning, decorating, creativity

Stress out about whether anyone will come, if you have enough activities planned, if you need more food, if you have enough time, if your child will have fun or not and what the other parents will think of you
Muscle(s) worked out: overactive imagination, guilt, fear, worry

Go over the basic party etiquette rules with child
Muscle(s) worked out: patience, repetition

Greet arriving children
Muscle(s) worked out: all the smiling muscles

Run activities and games
Muscle(s) worked out: patience, quick-thinking, enthusiasm, gentleness, encouragement, restraint

Oversee present opening with all children demanding that their gift be opened next
Muscle(s) worked out: patience, transcription, whispering ("say thank you")

Visit with other parents while children tear apart yard and home
Muscle(s) worked out: patience, friendliness, selective hearing

Pass out goody bags and say good-bye
Muscle(s) worked out: restraint (it's really bad form to yell out "yippee and good riddance!")

Help child extricate toys from boxes
Muscle(s) worked out: Patience, patience, restraint, patience

Drink a cold, alcoholic beverage
Muscle(s) worked out: relaxation, relief, gratitude

This workout may seem like a particularly grueling one, but the end benefit,a happy child who feels loved, is well worth the effort. And just think, you won't have to do it for another year.

This post has been a Monday Mission. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write a post in the style of an exercise routine. If you do, put a link in the widget below.


Join us next week when your Mission will be to write a post in the style of an excuse letter.

Maypole Continuing Education

Painted Maypole began Maypole Continuing Education as an opportunity to share with others the skills that she is continually learning and improving upon in her own life. Maypole Continuing Education is proud to announce its fall course schedule:

Hurricane Evacuation
This class will cover all the basics such as watching a hurricane's progress, choosing what to save and fitting it into the back of your vehicle,where to stay and how to decide when to return home. Guest speakers will discuss how to survive in a car for long hours with children and pets, as well as how to time your travel to avoid contraflow traffic. We will also cover preparing your home before we leave. This class will have several practical labs, and although we hope to only PRACTICE these skills, the class is being held during hurricane season so we may get the chance to put them to the test. If we're really unlucky, more than once.

Cheap Entertainment
This class is all about how to find hours of entertainment for little to no money. Painted Maypole will share her tips on everything from creating backyard hummingbird theatres to buying craft projects on clearance at Michael's for anywhere from 6 to 50 cents apiece. The class will begin with a lesson on being easily amused.

Clearing the Clutter
After clearing the clutter in her kitchen, Painted Maypole feels not only somewhat like an expert, but that she's on a roll. This class will be held in PM's computer room where students will get a VERY hands on chance to learn how to clear the clutter. Lessons include "sometimes it's OK to throw it away," "if I can find it I can use it," and the commonsense "there's a better way to file things than putting them on top of the filing cabinet, and usually that means OPENING the filing cabinet."

How to Drive Your Parents Crazy and Endear Them to You at the Same Time
This class is being taught by The May Queen who refuses to reveal any further information about the course, as apparently this is a top secret formula. Class open to children under 10 years of age only.

How to Throw a Child's Birthday Party at Your Home and Enjoy It
This course will begin by discussing the differences between an off-site party and a home party and discuss ways to plan activities for children in your home that will keep them occupied, entertained, and out of your medicine cabinets. After helping to implement a Cat themed birthday party for a 6 year old, students will then have an opportunity to plan their own birthday party.

*******

This post has been another Monday Mission. Your Mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write a post in the form of a course description. And... good news! I solved my Mister Linky problem, and now if you participate in the missions you can add your own little link below. Please put in the link to your actual POST.




Join us next week when your mission is to write a post in the form of a class syllabus.