Arden’s 5th birthday was fairly low-key this year, which is mostly my fault for going crazy at the end of last month, which put me behind in scheduling the big 5 year extravanganza my brain wanted me to.  Turns out it was probably for the best.  Arden really wanted to go paint pottery, so we headed off to Color Me Mine.  Lois came as well, which was nice.  We all painted our pieces.  Arden’s was quite interesting - a polka-dotted dolphin in a rainbow of colors.  We all had a good time, even my father, who isn’t really the artistic type.  His mug looked good before it was fired.  Mike embraced his metrosexuality and painted a bud vase, and I painted a tart warmer since I’ve broken the one I have. 

After a couple hours of painting, the girls were ready to eat, so we headed to Friendly’s.  I personally hate Friendly’s - not because of the food - but because it’s never busy and yet it always seems to take 90 minutes to eat there. When you have kids in tow, anything more than 30 minutes starts to cross into crabbyland.  As we sat down and looked at the menus, I noticed a woman with three children sitting behind me.  Her kids were pulling the shades open and closed rapidly while she stared into space.  Every time they opened the shades, we were all blinded.  The waitress came over and shut them again, shooting the kids her best threatening look. The mother didn’t seem to notice. 

A few minutes later, I saw the same waitress run toward her table. Her little girl, who looked to be about 3 years old, was standing barefoot on the table, opening and closing the shades again.  She was wobbling and looked like she was about to fall, so the waitress was telling her that she couldn’t stand on the table.  The mother said nothing.  After she left with her brood, the waitress told us she has come in with a can of Heineken (open) and usually is on some sort of drug.  It was actually really sad; the kids normally destroy the bathroom, throw food or just badly.  Not their fault - the mother seems be oblivious.  Even more scary - she drove in that state. 

Aside from the wacky, drugged out mom moment, we had a good time.  It still took forever to be served, but Arden and Lily BOTH ate, which is a miracle.  It was worth the 90 minutes.

After we had cake at the house with our neighbors, and made Arden go to bed still reeling from her sugar-induced high.  She loved the entire day which made me feel less guilty about not having a full-blown party.