Party! Party!

So then we were off to The Little Gym.. This is what we did for Anna's 3rd birthday, too! It is such a blast and all the kiddos have such a good time (and a hard nap after it is all said and done)
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Chaz wanted to get Anna a balloon and flowers (such the gentleman!) So we whipped it into Walmart on our way to the party. The result? Anna thought she was the Queen of the Ball...and she was!
If you have never been to the Little Gym let me tell you about it! It is a small gym that is set up behind a glass wall. On the other side of the wall are chairs where spectators can sit and watch the kiddos. Ryan and I, of course, go in the gym with the little ones! It is such a good time. There are uneven parallel bars, balance beams, a HUGE floor mat, mini climbing walls, tunnels, parallel bars and so much more. At first when you come in they really just let the kids run free---Shoes and Socks off! Let's go!!
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Then they begin to organize all these little muchkins into "organized chaos" Seriously it is like herding cats. These people deserve a medal from the President for the work they do and for the naps that follow --Happy mommy!
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Seriously, you have to be a toddler whisperer to get 20 some odd (there were more kids on the wall, I didn't get them all in the picture) 2-4 year olds to line up on a wall and wait for instructions. WHAT?!? I need a lesson! Fun on the bars.. This is Anna if you don't recognize the purple skirt

I love, love, love this picture! She was having a ball hanging from the high bar and twisting her body **

So once all the kiddos are "organized" on the big mat they tell them whatever activity they are about to do. One of which they have all the kids hide within the gym and the teachers try to go find them. Let me tell you, this is hilarious. Remember we are working with 2-4 year olds so their version of hiding is a bit different than what we would think... Example below: a LARGE group all hid in one place. Notice Eli and Jackson sitting on top of the apparatus and laughing.. Yeah that won't make anyone notice!

There were also many kids with their heads down on a mat or against the wall. This would be the "if-I-can't-see-you-you-can't-see-me" philosophy. Or kids would be hiding ...but laughing hysterically. This would be the "if-you-can't-see-me-you-probably-can't-hear-me-either" philosophy.. Good stuff!

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and then after they have wrangled all the cats they *GASP* let them loose again!!! I as a mother of a 2 1/2 year old cannot understand this concept. Why? Why? Would you let them loose after you had them under control?
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So during this "run free like crazed maniacs" time.. We ended up at the bars again.. Brandon is the one upsidedown... Brandon loved this! **

Starting to loose steam.. Good job Little Gym, good job!

Eli

And somehow the magical teachers got all the kids around a parachute and walking in circles to the music.. Magic!

Chaz and Jackson... sitting, quite, paying attention.... I am amazed..

They then take the "birthday kid" and put them in the middle of the parachute.. Baby brother is a bonus but not part of the "standard" routine. All the kids grab a handle and walk in a circle until she is all spun up tight in the parachute. When everyone lets go she spins out and the parachute opens.. very cool.

Jackson escaped and got under the parachute!

Dork..

Then they brought out little scarfs. Doesn't look like much but there is an entire song and routine that they did with these. The kids loved them! What pretty pink toes. I can't wait to have a girl and be able to paint her toes.....don't be fooled to quickly.. These are Ben's--poor baby was a victim of his sister and mommy.. Brandon was victim to the torture as well...

Yet another example of the amazing skills of the Little Gym people.. They had all the kids lay down on this mat.. not only do they have to lay down but they have to be on the white line.. Seriously these people are amazing!

Then this wonderful mat blows up as all the little muckins are on it. Super fun! Then they reorganize them into a line and have them jump down the white line over and over again..

Then the "magical" people have the munchkins lay down and they deflate the mat.. Once the mat is deflated all the kiddos stand in a line, put their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them and they march into a back room.. as they pass the threshold of the door, another "magical" person is at the door with hand sanitizer!!! (Happy mommy!)

The separate room is set up for all the kiddos to have cake and ice cream. AND if you have your kiddo open gifts one of the "magical" people will take notes of what the kids got and who gave it to them so you can write thank you notes.. AND they clean everything up!!

What a fun Saturday!!!

**Disclaimer--this was the day I started to figure out that my camera was still jacked up.. SOOOO if there is a shadow are kids, someones head is cut off or the picture is a bit off center this is not a true reflection of my picture taking abilities......just sayin'