The Valentine's Day Party

Today was my daughter's Valentine's Day party at school (postponed from Friday because of the snow).

As co-room parent, my job was to co-plan an event that included a snack, a game, and a craft that did not involve dried pinto beans or anything else that could be intentionally snorted up one's nostrils.

My partner and I drew straws for our assignments. She picked the game and treat. I picked the craft and the beverage portion of the snack.

I spent the better part of the past two weeks scouring the Internet and the still-functioning parts of my brain for a seasonally appropriate beverage recipe that would upstage a store bought cupcake.

Turning a first-grade Valentine's Day party into a petty competition takes a lot of time and work.

Despite my labors, I woke up this morning without a clear vision of what I wanted my daughter's class party to be. Fortunately, I found that vision in the form of my son's class party, which was held first thing in the morning. My daughter's party was scheduled for the last period of the day.

I spent the hours between 9am and 2pm at the craft store, duplicating every detail of my son's party, down to the highly original foam heart picture frames.

Some will call my actions tacky. I prefer the term "resourceful."