a friend'sbirthday party

 Philip and I won a ball.  Philip's reaction at this ball machine was funny.  When we won it, shy and quiet Philip grabbed it out, ran full-speed ahead of me, jumped over the mini-bowling alley seats onto one of them and raised his ball high.  Then, shocking me, he yelled over the whole little restaurant and game area noise to Jess on the other side, "Hey Dad!  Look what I won!"  Jess and I were surprised!  So cute!  He was so proud of himself.  I felt like Mommy of the year.  Isn't it silly for seemingly unimportant things to feel so successful?!!!

(Sophia and I got a stuffed animal from the other machine like this!)  Success!  I tried so hard to get Sophia  an animal after we got Philip's ball, but it didn't look like we would.  Finally, with her last two tokens, and our prize dangling half over the chute, we got the grabber to knock it in!  I jumped up and down, raised my arms high and whooped and hollered.  I tell you I was one happy Mommy!  My reaction surprised me too--I always make fun of people on game shows.  They are winning a ton of money; I won a dollar toy.  Embarrassing!  But I feel like a good Mommy!

 This is what Philip "purchased" with his tickets that he won while playing the games.