cashing in tix for … this??!?
Originally uploaded by coffywoman.
Ellie’s party was at Chuck E. Cheese this year. Prior to last Saturday, I had some pretty bad memories of Chuck E. Cheese–dark, overstimulating, bad pizza, grubby…very much like a casino for kids. Ellie’s party rehabilitated my view of the place somewhat.
I think when your kids have fun, your perspective on stuff you’ve previously despised just changes! And, I guess location matters. The CEC I’d been to previously was in East Side San Jose, not such a great ‘hood as compared with this one, located in Cupertino, home to Apple headquarters and a bunch of nouveau riche!
Anyway, the kids did have fun playing arcade games for tickets and then cashing them in for junk at the prize counter! Cameron claimed 2 “lovely” fake hair extensions; Chloe picked up Smarties and a cheap plastic twisty straw that she (gratefully) broke immediately (she’d been swiping it all over the floor before she bent it too much); and Dylan got a straw and a paper “fortune teller”.
fixin’ up that hair with those fancy extensions
Originally uploaded by coffywoman.
dylan’s fortune teller
Originally uploaded by coffywoman.
It looked so much better in the window, all pre-folded and whatnot. Dylan actually did look slightly taken aback, for a nano-second, anyway, when the grumpus behind the counter just slapped down a flat piece of paper! After I helped him fold it, he was back to joyous.
It was nice visiting with Ellie, Mark and Yu-Chen! Then, afterwards, we spent a huge wad of money buying new pants (for me) and new shoes (for the big kids) at REI before heading to Zeni’s for some yummy Ethiopian food. I just love watching the kids mack down on lentil-filled sambussas and injera with split peas (Cameron’s favorite) and collard greens (Dylan’s favorite). Chloe also likes those, but we’ve clearly not eaten enough Ethiopian food with her!
