another moment....birthday chaos

Charlotte was invited to Yong Bin's birthday party. All week long she's been in a dilemma whether to go to the party or have a friend over after school. Charlotte decided she would go to the party because she could see her friend tonight at the Dodgeball Tournament. The family goes to an International school mixing it up with students from all over the world. It's really cool.

The invitation was a bit confusing so I called the mom but couldn't reach her. It said to meet at the school but wasn't really clear if the kids would be returned to the school. I think parents assumed it would be walking distance to Yong Bin's house. "Everyone knows Yong Bin walks home from school." says Charlotte.

So when I get to the school at 12 pm because it's a half day, I give Charlotte Yong Bin's present and the card she made for him last night. Yong Bin's dad is there with a Ford Escort and he's piling 8-10 kids into the Ford.....Um, yeah. And the kids are excited! And dad looks a bit.....overwhelmed....And the kids are talking over one another excitedly! Um yeah...It was getting real squishy in there.

So I offered (See the need, take the lead??) to follow him with half the kids. I was just as surprised as Charlotte when we piled into the van. Charlotte told two of her friends "Hey, this is my car! And this is our friend Jen. She's staying with us this week." and then at the last minute, a teacher brings another little girl and says, "Oh Natalie is going too..." As if it were planned that I would be taking the kids to Yong Bin's party. So I said, "OK, Natalie, just take the front seat."

"Awwweee, not fair!" I hear chiming in perfect unison from the backseat. All three girls had front seat envy.
"I never get to sit up front."
"In all my years, I've never got to sit up front! Hmh!"
"Yeah, my mom never lets me sit up front."

(I wasn't about to say it's probably because there are safety laws. What would they think of Yong Bin's dad?)

At this point, Yong Bin's dad is driving away and I must follow with half the birthday party. No time to be road safe, but apparently that wasn't a problem to begin with......:D

I'm sure Natalie's parents would be happy to know that atleast she's in the front seat of the van and not crammed into the Ford. I don't think Yong Bins parents expected that many kids. Funny!