Family Fun Night

Joe's Pumpkin, Apple Which Clara Found at the Orchard to Which She Is Very Attached, Clara's Pumpkin

Tinks and Ariel have already been on a field trip.  (And they thought the Magic Kingdom was where it's at.)  They accompanied us in the car last night on the way to Family Fun Night.  This weekend is "MEA weekend" when all the Minnesota educators get together and talk about education in the state, and many elementary school parents split with their children for hotel pools and water parks in Midwestern destination locations like Duluth, Brainard, the Dells, and Door County.  (We are going to Des Moines.)  In the Park, it all begins with a few pandaemonium-filled hours at the middle school known as Family Fun Night.  Kids dash all around the middle school through stations adult volunteers have set up with things like temporary tattoos (the bambini are both sporting SLP temporary tats on their forearms) while parents trail after them.

"Mrs. D," as we understand she is sometimes called, was there.  (Kindergartner celebrity sighting!)  Joe greeted her by running up to her with no words and wildly flapping arms which he eventually calmed down enough to throw around her.  That was nothing compared to the reception Joe apparently received.  Julie wasn't there to see it because she was helping Clara decorate a miniature pumpkin, but understands that a small mass of screaming girls ran up to Joe like he was a Beatle arriving at Shea Stadium.  Joe Invasion!!!!!  Joe Mania!!!!!  After finishing his ration of two slices of pizza, three grapes, a cookie, a cup of water, and some popcorn*, Our Hero spent much of the evening tearing around the cafeteria after one of those girls: Nora.

We met Nora's mom and as she said, "They are IN LOVE."  We knew Nora was a special friend because Joe's take home-folder has come home with artwork from Nora in it.  But whereas we are left to dope out the stories from clues like this, Nora has, apparently, been more forthcoming with her mother.  Nora's mom reports that while she was hoping to meet Joe, she felt like he must be good people after Nora told her that Joe had said his favorite thing to do was snuggle with his mom and dad.  Oh Fans.  If these are the lines Joe is feeding he ladies, look out.  Julie and Nora's mom exchanged phone numbers as Joe and Nora swirled around chanting "Play date!  Play date!  Play date!"  Probably the only reason that Joe isn't insisting that play date happen TODAY is that we are going to Des Moines.  (Des-Moines!  Des-Moines!  Des-Moines!)

We were at FFN less than an hour, Fans, but what an hour.  Running. . .screaming (in a school!!!!!), a celebrity sighting, NORA!!!!!, pizza and grapes. . .and to think we said Tinks and Ariel had to stay in the car.

*Worst volunteer position at the Family Fun Fair: working the popcorn cart.  Never-ending line.  Smelly.  Hot in room filled with wildly running and screaming bodies.