Fancy Dinners and Parties

For several months now, one of Katy's favorite activities is planning parties and fancy dinners.  A party or fancy dinner for Katy consists of setting the table with paper plates, plasticware, colorful napkins, some kind of disposable cup, and paper straws.  I used to have a basket full of paper goods.  All of Katy's parties had depleted my supply.

Sometimes Katy writes invitations for her parties and fancy dinners, which are really just papers of various sizes, with or without scribbles for writing, folded unevenly several times and sealed into an envelope much too large.  Sometimes she sets the table with fake food.

Last weekend Nolan and Layla visited with my parents.  On Friday afternoon, I was in the baby room rocking one of the babies to sleep.  Nolan opened the door, handed me a small piece of paper folded in thirds, and said, "Here's your invitation."  "To what?," I asked.  "To the party," he replied.  And then he left.  I smiled at the thought of Katy in the other room with someone to join in her party planning.  Perhaps Katy has found her soulmate, I thought.

After leaving my sleeping baby, I found Katy and Nolan excitedly making more invitations.  When all the invitations were made, Nolan asked me for paper plates to set the table for the party.  Yes, I thought, Katy has found her soulmate.  We were out of paper plates, but I wasn't going to let this moment pass.  Finally, Katy had a playmate as excited as her about one of her absolute favorite activities.  So we made a quick trip to the dollar store.

Eventually Layla joined in the party planning fun.  Chris ordered Pizza and Gigi iced caterpiller cupcake cake.  Katy was exploding with excitement when it was finally time for everyone to sit down at the table at their assigned places.  Boys had napkins with balloons, girls had napkins with flowers.  Pops had the checklist with everyone's names, so after prayer he started the party by taking roll. 

After dessert and tasting a few Mexican candies, Nolan announced that the party would end with a game of tag outside.  Katy wanted to play hide-and-seek instead.  Perhaps they aren't soulmates after all, which is probably good because they are cousins. 

We planned to go out for Dinner on Friday evening, but I think our party was much more enjoyable.

The place settings.

All present, thanks to Pops taking roll. 

Ready to play tag.