Chucky E. Cheese-loise

Due to a series of events, Man managed to not have to work today after all and it rained so the block party scheduled to take place in our backyard got canceled (the park, not really our backyard) so we went ahead and took the kids to Princess' friend's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's. This is my first time setting foot in one as an adult.

We got there around 2:30 and the first thing we noticed was the line that went out the door. We managed to sneak in since we were already with a party and the din was unbelievable. Games, ski ball, kids running around, trash every where, lots of parents sitting around looking bored waiting for their kids to run through their stacks of tokens. The party itself was kinda cute. The Big Cheese himself came to sing the birthday song for the guest of honor, everyone got their pic taken with him, and the kids really did have a blast.

Tag went out of his mind running around, literally jumping around the whole place, running from game to game and trying to play everything that involved balls, smashing things, or riding a kiddy ride. Pebbles liked the lights and was cautiously pleased with one of those kiddy rocking car ride things you can sometimes find outside of grocery stores. I don't think we put her on the floor the whole time we were there just because we were afraid of losing her in the pulsing crowd. Princess had a really great time spending a couple of hours with her friends from school. It was nice to see her smiling and chatting with the girls.

By the time we left my ears were numb and Man and I were both a bit grumpy and tired but all three kids were pleasantly worn down and smiling. I've mentioned this place to a few parents and not one of them has said that they like it. Princess wants her birthday to be there.

The nice thing at the end of the day: all three of them crashed into their beds without a peep, we were "cool" parents for taking them there, Princess got extra-curricular social time, and we managed a family outing including singing songs during the car ride.

Now I'm going to go crash.