Red, White, and Blue
July 25, 2010
One of my good friends here in TX became a U.S. citizen this past month. I believe she has lived here for over twenty years now, married, four kids and she decided that it was finally time. I teased her that she just wanted an excuse to throw a party and buy all the deeply discounted Fourth of July decorations.
Because she throws the best parties. Obviously the theme of this party was America and she served foods that were stereotypical American foods. Something the all the children LOVED. I don’t think I have ever seen the children hit the buffet table so many times at a party.
The little kids are all playing a game called “Pass the Parcel” where a prize is wrapped up in multiple layers of gift wrap. The prize gets passed around the circle until the music, or in this case karaoke singing, stops. The person who is holding it when the music stops gets to unwrap a layer. The final person gets to keep the prize.
This game could also be renamed, “Watch Miles Cry.”
The menu included corn dogs, chicken fingers, cracker jacks, hamburgers, corn-on-the-cob, vodka. What?
My daughter also let me put a bow in her hair which is nothing short of miraculous. She has decided that she doesn’t like to have anything in her hair, prompting me to say multiple times per day, “Get that mop out of your face!” And then I die a little because I have turned into my mother.
Miles prefered to eat his hot dog sans bun. Raw. When we were all getting dressed I reminded the kids that we were supposed to try and wear red, white, and blue clothing. Miles picked out his camo shorts and “Gwateful Dead” shirt, because it is “blue, red, and cool.” Then he flashed me the hook ‘em horns sign. Next time I can going to let him wear his concealed gun and holster so that his metamorphosis into a Texan is complete.
![photo[1]RED-WHITE-BLUE](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4826312591_ef202efa13.jpg)
And if there is ever a time to wear your red hooker shoes, this would be it.
Want to know how to torment Susan? Text her this photo and ask her advice about getting the skirt unwrinkled. As soon as she mentions the word “iron” interupt to remind her that you do not own one. She falls for it every single time. I think she is just in such strong denial that someone could live a full life without an iron. She loves when I do that. She has also ironed my clothes for me at Blogher in the past. So really it is a win-win all around.
It was loads of fun. But by 1am, this was the reoccurring scene hanging off my lap. So we packed up and walked, skateboarded, bike rode home like a band of drunken hooligan Christmas patriotic carolers. I am sure the neighborhood loved it. I need to work hard to maintain my rif-raf image, you know.
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I’m from the UK, and Pass the Parcel is a staple at all children’s birthday parties. Brings back memories!
July 25th, 2010 at 12:07 pmLove, love, the Cracker Jacks. And congratulations to your friend …. what an awesome reason for a party.
July 25th, 2010 at 12:37 pmI LOVE YOUR OUTFIT! You are so stinkin adorable….I wish I was a thin as you! SRSLY!
Miles is cute, so is your little girl! Love Love Love all the red, white, and blue stuff and please tell your friend that I welcome her as a citizen with all my heart!
July 25th, 2010 at 12:44 pmPass the Parcel ROCKS. Did he cry cos he didn’t get the prize? Here in the UK most moms have given in and put a teeny tiny gift in each layer (like a small packet of candy), and then a bigger prize in the middle. Keeps everyone happy! (and sugar-fuelled!)
July 25th, 2010 at 2:00 pmOh the shoes! The skirt! The whole outfit! wow!
July 25th, 2010 at 2:47 pmShe knows what folks like . . . and what a great way to celebrate her new citizenship. Good for her! Congrats!
Poor little Miles . . . just all tuckered out at 1 in the morning.
July 25th, 2010 at 4:46 pmYep another UK’er here and have played pass the parcel many a time. My son also does what Miles does and sobs everytime the music stops and he’s not holding the parcel. Happy days lol.
July 25th, 2010 at 5:00 pmI love this! I love Texas, concealed holsters and all.
July 25th, 2010 at 6:04 pmAbsolutely LOVE the red “hooker” shoes!!! Looks like a fun party… Congrats to your friend!
July 25th, 2010 at 6:07 pmCongratulations to your friend! The more the merrier. I do own an iron but have only use it to melt crayon shavings between pieces of wax paper over the last 10 years.
Lori
July 25th, 2010 at 6:16 pmIs Pass the Parcel an unusual game in the US? Funny how cultural differences like that pop up in unexpected places! We play it here in New Zealand too!
July 25th, 2010 at 6:28 pmCongratulations to your friend!! Awww - Miles!
July 25th, 2010 at 6:52 pmYour friend has to be English!! Pass the Parcel is dead give away!! Haven’t heard that game mentioned in years. Played it at every party growing up in England, but never ever heard of it played here!! Congrats to your friend. I became a citizen, I was going to say a few years ago, but YIKES, it’s been 16!!!!
July 25th, 2010 at 6:53 pmLove your Blog by the way!
Congratulations to your friend! And wrinkle releaser is the best invention ever.
July 25th, 2010 at 7:25 pmHe wasn’t born a Texan but it didn’t take long to become one!
July 25th, 2010 at 7:28 pmCongratulations to your friend. What a great reason to have a party.
July 25th, 2010 at 7:56 pmHah. As soon as I read the words “Pass the parcel” I thought - I bet that makes Miles very unhappy.
Also, I don’t own an iron either. Gasp!
July 25th, 2010 at 8:07 pmChris says: I knew there was a reason I liked you.
I love the pictures, but most of all I love the fact that I’m not the only mom who refuses to own an iron.
July 25th, 2010 at 10:31 pmYou guys don’t play ‘Pass the Parcel’ in the States?? crazy! I’m from New Zealand, and have played it at all birthdays up to the age of 12ish… haha
Looks a very festive party! And your hooker shoes are hot, so is your tan. Bring back summer!!!
July 25th, 2010 at 10:43 pmRif-raf image! I guess that’s the one I’m working on, when I arrive home at 3.30 AM, wearing dirty jeans, sweater and a balaclava to hide my sweaty hair. My neighbour did a double take… (Not that I know what SHE was doing up that time on a Monday morning…)
July 25th, 2010 at 11:01 pmI had an Aussie friend who introduced me to Pass the Parcel - so we now play it at all our birthday parties- tho it was renamed Pass the Present by my kids. We do put a little treat in every layer of the paper - and generally the layers equal the number of guests playing - once the person got to unwrap they got a small piece of candy and became the next music master so they left the circle and they decided when to stop the songs (made it easier to leave the circle)
July 26th, 2010 at 12:41 amMy kid would cry too . . or refuse to actually PASS the Parcel.
Love seeing the moms here who don’t own irons! I thought I was the only one, now I feel all fuzzy and warm inside.
July 26th, 2010 at 7:24 amI read often but don’t often comment but to help yo with the ironing, Wrinkle Release and a hot hairdryer. I don’t mind wrinkled linen and who is looking at the skirt when you are wearing red hooker shoes?
July 26th, 2010 at 8:49 amOoo, I may have to play Pass the Parcel at my next birthday party! I’ll be 35…is that too old for the game?
July 26th, 2010 at 8:59 amDid you steal her paint color?
Chris says: Photos are so deceptive! Her paint color is more like a spicy brown mustard. Mine is much lighter and more buttery/lemony
July 26th, 2010 at 10:48 amI also do not own an iron. Before I go on business trips I drop everything off at the dry cleaner for a quick touch-up.
July 26th, 2010 at 12:01 pmWhat a fabulous reason to celebrate! Cute outfit, but you really don’t own an iron? How is that possible?
July 26th, 2010 at 12:59 pmI love it, only a mother of seven would take a picture of her kid as he cried. I often have a similar expression at 1am myself!
July 26th, 2010 at 1:30 pmI don’t own an iron either. In the early days of my marriage, my husband complained about the way I ironed his shirts. It was the last time I ironed, I am the queen of Downy wrinkle release and a spin in the drier.
we were at my mother’s house last year and she was ironing and my youngest son was incredulous that women could iron because the only person he has ever seen ironing is his father. That’s a perception I’ll keep
July 26th, 2010 at 1:32 pmI’ve never heard of that game “Pass the Parcel” but that sounds like such a great idea! I’m going to keep that in mind. I love the photos! Man…I love corn dogs. I can’t remember the last time I had one though. Probably during a carnival or something…traditional American foods…nice and fatty!
July 26th, 2010 at 1:44 pmI want an update on crazy neighbor…anything new?
July 26th, 2010 at 2:00 pmI didn’t even notice that your skirt was wrinkled until you said something. And still… not so wrinkled.
July 26th, 2010 at 7:27 pmThe only thing I ever iron are curtains. I live in comfortable clothing. Or else I rewash the clothes because I didn’t put them away quickly enough. I know, I know. I’m soooo environmentally friendly. haha.
How do you handle fabrics like curtains and tableclothes?
Chris says: Uh, I don’t have any?
July 26th, 2010 at 9:37 pmLOVE those shoes!
I just used my iron yesterday for the first time in ages. I almost called the kids in to watch the spectacle, but then I thought better of it, since 3,000 questions would double my ironing time.
One warning, though: Girl Scout badges have to be ironed on, unless you want to sew all of them. They are a huge pain either way.
July 27th, 2010 at 11:06 amLove the shoes and skirt, where did you get the skirt?
Also I own a iron but never use it, I thought the dryer was used to get out wrinkles?
Chris says: It is several years old.
July 27th, 2010 at 7:14 pmMy mom gave my husband an iron for a wedding shower gift because she knew I would never use one.
July 28th, 2010 at 1:19 amAnother reason why i love you. Girls without irons unite.
July 28th, 2010 at 8:08 amDelurking to tell you that — although, I do own one — I also, “DO NOT IRON,” which were my first words after, “I DO!!!”
Congratulations to your friend!
July 28th, 2010 at 10:10 amI just bought my husband a new iron…he does all of it - gives him an excuse to watch John Wayne movies. Really enjoy your blog - love from an originally Brit, now American, Texan just down the road……:)
July 28th, 2010 at 10:20 amI don’t own an iron either—a fact that shocks and irritates my mother-in-law to no end.
July 28th, 2010 at 4:46 pmCongrats to friend. She definitely had the American Flag theme going.
Poor Miles -
Where the heck did you get those AWESOME shoes? I want some!
August 2nd, 2010 at 10:45 am