[carnation]

I wish I could report that the party was a raging success. The decorations were super--we had a huge pirate flag waving from our porch, a talking pirate head on the door, a tunnel that they crawled through to get in the door, you get the idea. The refreshments were great--Blazercheer baked a pirate chest cake spilling over with candy jewels and chocolate coins.

However, this nasty little creep from our son's class came to the party, a kid we didn't know. Teachers require that if you give out invitations at school, you give them to all the kids or at least those of your own sex. I understand this but if I'd known about this kid, I would've found another way to give them out.

He refused to play any games, preferring to run about and destroy decorations. He wouldn't eat cake because he wanted to run balloons through with his sword. We had to abandon the games and merely showed a Garfield pirate movie and then have the treasure hunt because there was no other way to corral him.

My son seems content and is playing with his presents now. However, what could have been a smash hit wasn't and here's a warning to all you mothers of young kids: check out your guest list before you send out invitations. Wish I'd thought to.