YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY IS NOT THE BLOCK PARTY

I swear. I don't know how this happened.

Two years ago, when ESJ turned 4, we made their birthday party the same day as the block party. We thought we were HIGHLY clever-we scheduled the party for a two hour block during the three hour block that the Jumping Jack was scheduled to come, thus ensuring free entertainment.

Of course, the JJ came the exact moment the party ENDED, thus forcing David (my bil of the baseball uni fame) to run a very long, very painful game of freeze dance while I stressed out in the kitchen and Benjie comforted children who had been traumatized by the "Officer Friendly" who came with his "police dog" but was more like "Officer Scary with his terrifying ATTACK DOG". Whatever. I digress.

Either way, since then, ESJ cannot understand that the block party IS NOT their birthday party.

I swear. I have told them umpteen times. But every time I mention their impending birthday party (which I'd really get on the planning b/c....ummmm....I'm planning on it next Sunday and maybe invitations would be helpful?) they INEVITABLY TALK ABOUT THE BLOCK PARTY. This has been going on for TWO YEARS.

I have told them nicely. I have yelled in exasperation. WHY OH WHY do they think that they are one and the same?

Although the confusion might reach a fevered level this summer b/c being as I have not even done the freaking invitations for the Fancy Nancy/Baseball Bashes (at seperate times, don't you fear), I AM considering moving their birthday party to the next weekend.

The weekend of the block party.