The Balloons
It was recently my grandma’s 80th birthday.
The girls helped my mom put together a very fun, very laidback party. There were streamers, takeout Chinese food, cake and of course, balloons.
The girls asked if they could bring the balloons home afterward. All of them.
I couldn’t think of a good reason to say no.
And so we hauled fifteen balloons home in the backseat of our car, obstructing Daddy’s rearview mirror as we drove down the interstate.
When we got home, I heard the girls sneak into the junk drawer, rifling through used lip gloss compacts, binder clips, expired coupons and empty CD cases to find the highly coveted, highly forbidden objects of their desire:
Sharpies.
And then, for no less than an hour and a half, the girls began to christen our new family members.
Loved ones like Shirly.
Her hair is curly.
And then there’s, Hairy. (not Harry)
Because, man, is he hairy.
Let me introduce you to Amanda.
Oh, Amanda.
Honey.
Have you seen Mr. Big Eyes?
Because, he can totally see you.
I just go gaga for Baby Jonh.
Sweet Baby Alternative Spelling Jonh.
Then there’s good old Larry.
Do you know why he’s Larry?
Me neither. But somehow, it suits him.
Here’s…..Bethany?
But, Bethany, what about Bob?
There’s the very seasonal Jack. Specifically, Mr. Jack O’ Lantern.
Looking scary, Jack.
And last but not least, Mr. Tired Man.
Which is kind of how I looked when my alarm went off this morning.
Minus the green eye shadow.
I came to love these new members of our family. They were quiet. They entertained my children endlessly. They were free.
And then the day came when they started to shrivel. When company was coming over. When I began to resent having them underfoot.
The girls went off to school, leaving me at home.
And then there was a terrible “accident.”
It involved some scissors I found in the Sharpie drawer.
I don’t want to talk about it.
May God have mercy on my soul.
Or at least bless us with balloons again very soon.
Hehe. At least their lives were well documented, they are now part of history.
I adore this post. I think I may bear a resemblance to Mr. Tired Man in the morning, too.
Please tell me minus the green eyeshadow.
Oh how easily entertained kids can be!
Thanks for the afternoon chuckle. I needed it.
Glad you could laugh even after seeing your balloon namesake.
Love this. I hate having to explain where the balloons disappear to when I can’t stand having them around anymore. My 4 year old is starting to question my “They had to go bye bye” explanation.
Those balloons have a full social calendar. Maybe they really did just have to go bye bye.
Those are adorable! Haha. I totally needed to read this tonight. I can see this making a good concept for a children’s book. By the way, your daughters are good artists!
Cute idea! Hmmm…now the old wheel is a turnin’
ah, this is probably exactly what my mum did when I was little!! I pretended one balloon was a dog though, and took “him” for a walk on the beacg with a ribbon as the lead tied to him
1 week later, after having about 6 dog-balloons, they just magically disappeared… oh, what mums do 
Your mum and I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Oh my goodness, this is so cute! It reminds me of when my middle sister and I wanted to name my youngest sister “Orange Juice Head” or “Chocolate Milk Head” when she was born. We were determined that my parents would name her either of those. The names kids come up with….
Orange Juice Head has a nice ring to it.
I am cracking up for many reasons: 1) the names, 2) the happy accident and 3) the fact that I read “expired coupons” as “expired condoms.” Can’t.stop.laughing.
You never can tell what you’ll find in the junk drawer.
This is the kind of thing I’m looking forward to when my Ruby gets a little older:)
It’s such fun, Erin!
did bethany have a sex change?
poor guy, girl, eh?
I did have to ask about this one. Apparently the boy balloons were badly outnumbering the girls, so they pulled a switcheroo.
This was adorable! When I was little family used to blow up a bunch of balloons and tape them around the house for my brother and my birthday. i used to love playing with them afterwards. Can’t remember if I ever drew on them (probably did) but I do remember lobbing many at my brother’s head.
Ah yes, balloon volleyball. It should be an Olympic sport.
AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I love the names! I’m going to try to not analyze Amanda’s look too much. I do think she bears quite a resemblance to someone in my house…hmmm?
Oh, I hope you re-hid the sharpies really well. Seth has a nose for those things like no other.
I’m cracking up at the Amanda doppelganger. If you don’t know what doppelganger means, ask Wordgirl.
And we know all about Seth’s track record with Sharpies. Although I would like a new paint job, so bring him on over.
i kind of wish you could see me right now…i’m sobbing with laughter over the balloons and their names and faces! kids are amazing.
Oh, you just wait. Wes will keep you in stitches.
This reminded me, in my high school Bible class, one day we were all given a helium filled balloon and a sharpie. On that balloon we were supposed to write all of our troubles, problems, and stresses. After that, we went outside and let them go, sending them to Heaven. Sometimes we forget to turn to Him with our worries.
I love that! My girls wouldn’t want to let them go, though!
This is such a funny post – and a really lovely one
I can’t blame you for getting the scissors out in the end but I’m glad your girls had such fun with their new friends while they lasted!
As a Bethany I’m glad that my name was represented. Even if it was the second choice…
Have a great weekend, Bob!
it is too quiet in my house right now to laugh out loud, but there is nothing more wonderful to me than waking up to something FUNNY! i spend my days ready for FUNNY! i spend my days LAUGHING when NOTHING is FUNNY! this is FUNNY! THANK YOU!
I am so glad you have so much laughter in your life…it is such a gift! Thanks for sharing it with me.
I love every bit of it. I so can’t wait for the day for Baby Belle to be able to act out on her imagination! Too funny!
This is so adorable! I love it!
Wow, I had the hardest time not laughing out loud at work… Thanks for sharing this
My pleasure!
Love your new members. Sad your relationship with them deflated… hehhehee
we have many accidents with scissors and our balloony relatives too 
Seriously–how do you make a story about balloons cute and funny?
You’d have to know my girls to get it. They make it easy.
I very, very rarely comment because I just don’t think I have anything good to say,…
But I just need to let you know that I dragged my husband over to the computer so we could both laugh outrageously at the post.
(As outrageously as one can laugh with a baby sleeping, that is!)
Also, love the changes to your blog! I’m enjoying seeing the changes that the Lord is making in your life
Thank you, Becca! Hope you guys have a great weekend.
I have a theory about Larry. Larry the Cucumber maybe????
If you like to talk to tomatoes…if a squash can make you smile…
Hehe, I am so glad I start my day with your blog. You can never say your girls are not creative. They will do great things in the world
Your are hilarious. And you make tasty food. Thank you.
Love this post, this is the most creative way to play with balloons ever!!
Matheus also loved having balloons around when he was younger, he would bring the ones from the grocery store and play with them so happily, it was fun to see, and I miss those days… enjoy the balloons mama pea!
Ana
That i so adorable! And it is a simple idea for having a great time too!
This was such a clever thing to do with balloons! (And a clever “accident” afterwards, too. ; ) I enjoyed your post; a friend told me about your blog.
Well, welcome, Anne! And tell your friend I said thanks.