This Memorial Day was also Jack’s 8th birthday! To start the day he requested a big breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, strawberries, and donuts. Opening presents was fun, he got a lot of games and books this year.
Ben took the kids to BigTime jump gym and then to the Toys R Us to scope out the going-out-of-business sales. They got a great deal on an enormous LEGO robot set that Jack has been eyeing for years. We had lunch at Red Robin, where he politely declined the birthday hoopla.
In the evening we hosted a Harry Potter themed birthday party. I had various activities tied into the wizarding world, with lots of magical items for them to collect and take home.
I turned the front door into Platform 9 3/4 to enter the magical world. The kids were sorted into the different houses and received their wizard cap and a wand. The snacked on pizza, Huffle-puffs, Raven-claws, Gryffindor Grapes, Slytherin Snakes, Quidditch Brooms, Bertie Bott’s Beans, and Prof. Sprout’s veggies (ok, mostly the adults snack on that last one). Then we began classes. First they had Charms class (float the balloon with “Wingardium Leviosa!”). Then they learned to write with quills. Then we went to Transfiguration class to turn into owls and race the letters. Lots of cheating with that one, so I switched to charades, whispering an animal to each child to “transform” into. During this time Amanda and Ben set up the table for Potions class. This was the clear winner of the night. We had a selection of ghastly ingredients and recipes they could mix up and drink. Next was cupcakes and presents, and we finished with Care of Magical Creatures by coloring their own Basilisk snake.
Everyone seemed to have a blast. I’m indebted to Amanda for being such a helpful Sister Witch. She plays a wonderfully stern Potions Master too. Ben was also great at making sure all the kids were having fun, and managing Sam as he tried to blend in with older kids. The night capped off with an impromptu sleepover for Jack’s best friend. They were absolutely giddy about getting to play for another few hours, and right back at it in the morning.
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