Chuck E. Cheese

Well, the inevitable has finally occurred... Haley was invited to a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese, and has discovered the joys of a kid-centered restaurant! We loaded up with tokens and took off for the games and rides - all of which fascinated Haley. Then she discovered the slide, and it was all over. Of course, since the slide was free, we ended up giving away a lot of our tokens to other party-goers. Up the slide, down the slide. She even mastered climbing up the slide portion, just to avoid having to walk all the way to the stairs. Despite my cautions, this was her favorite part, and luckily there weren't many kids using the slide at the time.

Then it was dinnertime and would you believe it? Haley ate 1-1/2 slices of pizza! This might not be unusual by other kids' standards, but Haley has never liked pizza before this party. Call it the power of peer influence - a whole table full of kids gobbling down the stuff as if it would disappear at any moment! Then it was a slice of heavily-frosted birthday cake with sprinkles, for a record sugar-high, which once again propelled her to the slide and rides.

Overall, a great time! But I might have to avoid the Wild Oats Market next door for awhile, since now she'll recognize Chuck E. Cheese heaven!