The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Ben and I celebrated our 15th Anniversary (!) this week.  In commemoration of this momentous occasion, Ben received a 15-ballon bundle.  At work.  Delivered by a walking Teddy Bear.  But I digress.  When I was planning this small gesture of love, I asked a friend if it was weird to give balloons as an anniversary gift.  Balloons seemed more birthday-appropriate, where flowers are more traditional for anniversaries.  But I wanted this to just be fun and silly, so balloons seemed to fit well.  This friend immediately replied that balloons were the best choice because the kids would love them.  Boy, was he was right.

The kids have played and played and played with these balloons.  Eliza has been the most excited about them, carrying a bundle around the house, tying it to whatever object she's using (Have you ever tried to do homework with a mechanical pencil that's attached to a dozen helium-filled balloons?  It certainly added a new challenge for Eliza.) and making it look as if they're moving on their own when she takes them up and down the stairs.  I've even had to take the balloons away a few times because she's playing with them instead of doing things like brushing her teeth when her ride is due to arrive to take her to school.

Ballons ✔
Colorful Glasses ✔
Clown Nose ✔
Now all she needs is some big overalls and
oversized polka-dotted shoes and she's ready for the circus.

But imagine my surprise when I was downstairs with Eliza and Luke, and Cat walked down with the balloons all around her face, then started acting like a dog.  That was slightly unexpected.  But I guess that's the magic of whimsical items such as balloons - they bring out the kid and the fun in all of us, right?  I know they make me happy whenever I see them bundled together.