Peyton attended a friend's birthday party for the first time this weekend.  It was a brave new world for both of us!  In case you didn't know... I'm not a GIANT fan of attending parties.  Oh yes, I'll plan the biggest, baddest blow out you've ever seen but I really want no part in the festivities.  I fully realize I'm much too much of a control freak for that!  But when Peyton recieved an adorable Curious George birthday party invitation, I knew the jig was up.  My time had come.  I chose to focus on Peyton's excitement, though.  The birthday party was for Hannah, a girl in his class at school.  Truthfully, I"ve never heard him mention her name before last week (when he got the invite) but that's not important.  Everyday Peyton asked me if we were going to Hannah's Boi-Dae Pahty.  He was SOO excited!!  And I was excited for him. 

So Saturday morning we loaded up and headed to Target to purchase Hannah's new puzzle.  (yes, I actually put off buying the present until 2 hours before the party)  Peyton REALLY wanted to get a Thomas the Tank Engine puzzle but I directed him to fish.  Fish seemed safe.  (How do I know if Hannah likes Thomas?)  When I gave him the choice of a princess gift bag or a birthday cake bag he kind of looked at me like 'what kind of question is that?' look and said 'boi-dae cake'.  (I mean, come on, mom... we're going to a birthday party...) 

The party looked super fun when we arrived!  There was a bounce house, loads of balloons littering the floor (for kicking and throwing, of course) a coloring station and Curious George decorations everywhere.  Peyton had a blast until we heard the first 'boom'.  The party was in a church gym (good thinking for Hannah's mom).  But after lots of playing, the balloons had worn thin and began to pop.  Peyton recently developed a debilitating fear of loud noises, particularly popping balloons.  Have you heard a balloon pop in a basically empty gym?  Its LOUD.  Here's the scene from 1:45 to 2:15:   Peyton is playing on the floor or in the bounce house or coloring happily.  A balloon pops.  Peyton looks around frantically.  He locates me in the room, makes eye contact and breaks down, sobbing and shaking.  I go over, hold him for a few minutes and calm him down.  We find something else to do and he is distracted.  5 minutes later:  repeat the whole thing. 

Poor Peyton's nerves were so shot he didnt even want his cupcake.  (one of his most favorite things)  By 3:00, though, he had eaten a cupcake, downed some apple juice and watched Hannah open her presents.  We were satisfied with our first birthday party experience and went home to tell Daddy about it.  Its funny how a three year old remembers things.  When Brandon asked him about the party he told him about the bouncy house and cupcakes and presents.  Never a mention of awful balloons!