Erin Fox: A water-ful birthday for Little Missy

Since the dead of winter we have been planning Little Missy’s party for her fifth birthday.  Her birthday that occurred last Sunday in the suffocating heat of summer.  Nothing like preparing months in advance for an event that we‘ll still change our minds about at the last minute.  And by “we” I mean “her.”  But that’s okay.  A girl’s allowed to change her mind.
Somehow we ended up with destination parties.  No longer are gatherings at our home with friends surrounding us while singing “Happy Birthday” and eating cake sufficient.  Now we have to explore an exciting location while singing “Happy Birthday” and eating cake.  Places in the running have been Exploration Place, the Zoo and the Pool.  Since it’s been murderously hot for the last month, guess which one she chose?

When we finally acquiesced (Because it took a long time for me to give in.  All those little sweeties around all that water?  I just see death.) and let the pool be the location of her party, she set to making her guest list.  That guest list almost immediately grew to an amount of adorable little girls that Hubby and I could not safely watch at one time around all that water.  So we told her that if she’d only invite two girls then we’d take them to Rock River Rapids.  She quickly settled on the Adorable Miss F. and the Fabulous Miss B.

Tangent: Something interesting I’ve noticed with kids is how they use an invite to their birthday parties as leverage with their friends.  “Leverage” might be too strong a word, but you get the gist of what I‘m saying. On the playground kids--little girls, especially--will affirm how happy they are with a friend or how frustrated they are with them by telling them whether or not they can come to their party.  Their birthday party that might be eight months away.  The first time I saw this I was MORTIFIED.  In the car on the way home Little Missy and I talked about how friends’ feelings can get hurt that way so we shouldn’t say those things anymore.  I think she’s working on it, but it is a language four-year-olds speak.  I much rather they’d say “I love you!” when they’re happy and “I’m frustrated with you today” when they’re not.  Someday, hopefully.
After the email invites went out, Little Missy decided she wanted the cousins, too.  Hubby TOO QUICKLY said yes.  Two more kids?  Kids that can swim very well, granted, but two more, nonetheless.  Hubby, who is capable and unflappable with kids in the water, was not worried so I sent an email to my sister-in-law.  She and her husband offered to come, too, and that was for the best, because six kids plus a baby at Rock River Rapids is stressful.  Can I get an “Um, yeah?”
The day of the party we picked up the little girls and drove them to Derby.  Once they were all sunlotioned-up we headed into the water while G went with his cousins and aunt and uncle.  In the water, in the shallow kids area of the park, it always seemed that two girls went one way and the third the opposite way.  Then I’d bring them all back together, only for the silliness and excitement of the pool to separate them again.
Stressful.
Keeping my eyes on three different children as they swam around strangers was a challenge.  A challenge my brain could only take for two hours, even with the help of my husband.
At the end they all played together and held hands on the mini-slide and giggled.  It was adorable.  Then we walked our wet selves into the ice cream store and sang “Happy Birthday” to Little Missy over cold treats.
The preparation for next year’s party has not yet begun, but I have no doubt that conversation is fast approaching.  Right now we’re talking about G’s party, which happens to be three months away.