Trip Down August Runway

It seems like every month is just the nuttiest month of the year. Sometimes I dont know whether its the nature of the month, or its just that Eden is getting older and more demanding. Or rather, demanding in new ways that are fun and exciting but also tiring.

A cute story. Yesterday we went to a birthday party. The party was at this - place. I'll get to that after the cute story. In the morning I mentioned that after gan, we would go the party. Eden gave me a funny look and said, "Are you sure? I'm not sure. Let's see." I was surprised - did she not want to go? All she would say was, "Lets see, Mommy, let's see. After gan? A birthday party? With cake and presents? Let's see."
Later that morning, she said to Ben, "Daddy I have a good idea!" ("What's your good idea, Eden?") "I think that I should go to the bathroom, then go to gan, then go to the birthday party! I think that's a good idea!"
Great idea Eden, glad you claimed it as your own....

So, but the party. It was at this place in Modiin, that is like an indoor playground. Its got a climbing structure that is two stories high. With a zip line, slides, climbing walls, etc. All the kids were going up themselves and I'm not really the type of mom to get in to one of these things with a huge amount of kids - I wasn't the type to do this at 3 or 5, and I'm not the type at 25. But there were places where Eden went and I completely couldn't see her. Kids all over the place. Of all ages. And it was so loud, that had she been calling for me, I would not have been able to hear her.
And then the jumping thing. The moon walk, what ever you want to call it. As I've mentioned Eden plays hard. She was tackling other kids, falling all over the place (including on her head!) and generally having the time of her life. I was terrified.
After a while they brought a clown who magically turned the kids into fairies, then superheros, then wild animals, then butterflies, then scary monsters. Basically, she'd wave a magic wand, play some music and they would jump around. Repeat, with different jumping. Repeat, with different jumping. The kids were jumping for 2.5 hours straight.

This is the second party of the month - the first was in a park. One of the mom's told me that the park party cost the parents 1500 shekels, the indoor one 900 shekels. Compare that to my ~200 shekel make a butterfly party (including food and materials) back in March for 12 kids and there is something very strange. I don't intend on spending much more next year for her 4th party.

Eden's got another few parties this month - one on Shabbat that we are not going to. Other parents are annoyed that its scheduled for Shabbat, but I'm not particularly. Sorry that Eden can't go, but its not like Eden is a good friend of hers and don't think there is anything wrong with partying on Shabbat. Their loss. Ben and I also have a few parties - 3 aliyah anniversary parties, a bar mitzvah, I've got a benefit concert, Ben's parents are moving, Eden has off the last week of August, and is starting a new gan on Sept 1. Whew.

Also - did I mention? We are painting. The entire interior. We also did some work on the porches and whitewashed them so they look almost new. I'm really excited about the interior - living in color! The painter is coming tonight to discuss starting date and colors.....