Recipe

I don't usually post recipes. I'm not much of a cook so I don't bother to tell people how to make mediocre dinners or less than spectacular appetizers.

But today I have a recipe I want to share. It's a recipe for a nine year old's birthday party. A sure-fire way to ensure that everyone will have a good time.

You will need:
25 sheets of computer paper for homemade invitations
3 frozen pizzas, any brand: 1 plain cheese, 1 pepperoni and 1 sausage
1 white cake mix and required ingredients
1/2 tsp of blue food coloring
3 cans of black olives
2 jars of baby dill pickles
1 package string cheese
1 batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies
2 bottles of Hawaiian Punch, any flavor
1 brand new kitten
20 $1 toys/crafts picked up at JoAnn Fabrics on the clearance aisle

About two weeks before the appointed date, send homemade invitations to the birthday girl's classroom. Make sure there are enough for everyone in the class. You (I) don't want to single anyone out as not invited. Be sure to put on the invitation that parents are welcome to stay or drop off/pick up as necessary.

Ask for RSVPs but don't expect any.

Plan for several non-RSVPers to show up anyway.

Don't plan any games but do have the $1 toys/crafts laying on a bench near the front door.

As the kids arrive, have the birthday girl give them a tour, letting them know that any door that is closed in the house means that room is off-limits.

About ten minutes after the appointed start of the party, let the kids run free, telling them you'll call them when it's time to blow out candles.

Give the kids the run of the house, letting them decide what to do and when.

Don't supervise them too closely, they're fine. Really.

While the kids run wild visit with the couple of parents who chose to stay. Eat the food the kids don't even touch. Don't be offended when the kids only eat the olives, cheese and pickles. They're kids. It's up to their own parents to make sure they eat a balanced dinner when they get home.

When the parents arrive, let each child choose at least three of the prizes by the door. It's easy, only five of the classmats showed up, four more than the one that RSVP'd.

Thank the parents who dropped off and the ones who stayed.

Hug your birthday girl and ask her if she had a good time. Try not to cry when she says this was the best day ever and that the only way it could have been better is if her daddy liked her new kitten.