Oops I Did It Again

I will start this story by saying that I've had a very sick little girl at home this week and my extra brain power (which is scant) has been focused on keeping her out of the hospital--not social engagements.  Clearly.

Garrett received 2 birthday party invitations in the mail a couple of weeks ago and, while the thought of a kids birthday party usually makes me run for the hills, there was no way we were missing these.  Jumpity Jump and Gymnastics parties....a 4 yr. old boys' dream.  Both at 2:30, one Saturday and one Sunday.  Check.

It's Saturday, Lewis's Jumpity Jump party, and I had to wake him up from a nap (it figures, right?) so we started out about 20 minutes late.  He is so excited! This is the Superbowl for him--the kid lives for bounce houses.  We pull up to the place, get out of the car, run into the place, and he starts stripping off his clothes.  (He had negotiated his customary shorts and t-shirt underneath long pants and shirt).  I sign the waver, tell the 12 year old working the desk that we are there for Lewis's party and she says "We don't have anyone by that name today.  Are you sure it's here at Pump It Up?".  Right.  Crap.  Wrong place.  That's when it would have been helpful to have carefully re-read the invitation...had I had it with me.

Back in the car.  Racing to Jumpity Jump.  30 minutes late.  Holiday traffic.  40 minutes late.  We get there, run inside.  Garrett is literally hopping with anticipation.  I sign the waver, tell her sorry we are late, where is lewis's party?.  12 year old worker looks confused and says, "We don't have a Lewis party here.  Actually, I think that party is tomorrow."  Crap x 100! I am a totally loser.  It's like having your child at the gates of Disney and saying, "oh, you can't go though".

Sweet Garrett buried his head in my thigh and sobbed.  Sad, crocodile tears against which I am powerless.  It's terrible to disappoint your child and, I know I'll have to get used to it, but I wasn't really wanting for either of us to have to learn that lesson yesterday.  I'm kind of embarrassed to admit this, but it's a part of the story---at this point I was crying too.  Dumb, I know....I'm totally blaming pregnancy hormones.   I would say I swallowed my pride, but since I had none left, after going to the wrong place, for the wrong party, on the wrong day, 40 minutes late....pride was a non-factor when I asked,  Is there anyway in the whole wide world that my little boy could jump?  For just 10 minutes? I will do anything!!!???  Please!!!!!!


I'm not sure if it was fear or mercy, but someone went and asked another birthday party mom if Garrett could jump at her party.  And she said "yes":) .  Garrett marched on back, dried his tears, and had to be hauled off an hour later as the birthday girl, that we did not know from Adam, was cutting cake.  I was not able to laugh about this at all yesterday (unlike me, I know), but today it seems really funny that Garrett and I spend an hour at a birthday party full of strangers, bouncing under a sign that read, "Happy Birthday Jenna".  And that he kept saying, but I don't see Lewis, the whole time.  And that now there is the possibility that two people could be having a conversation that goes something like this:

Stranger #1:  "Last week a random mom and her little boy crashed a birthday party that we were at."
Stranger #2:  "That's so funny because that exact thing happened at a baby shower I was attending a
 couple of months ago.  Wonder if it was the same person? Hahahaha"


And then they will put two and two together and I will be known all around town as The Girl who Goes to the Wrong Parties.  I guess there are worse things to be known for.