Family Date Night

I realized I need to be more fun. Sometimes I'm just the mean momma who makes everyone do chores and brush teeth, and sends friends home when the game wasn't over yet. (The game is never over, as far as I can tell.)

So I decided to institute Family Date Night. Once a month we do something fun together as a family (and it can't be staying at home and watching a movie). The truth is, we are actually not doing that much more going out than we did before, but now we are putting it on the calendar and looking forward to it more. Anticipation is half the fun, right?

For March's date night we went to the Mayan. (Many thanks to Erika W. who gave me the idea!)
If you've never been there before, the Mayan is a super cool restaurant. When you go inside you feel as if you have entered a South American Jungle. Most of the tables seem to be in tree houses, and the lighting all flickers as if it were candlelight.

We all shared the chocolate eruption cake.
But the cool part is the 20 ft high rock wall; upon which perch brave divers. They amazed us with their flips and twists. They jump every half hour on the 15 and 45. My kids thought it was amazing, I tried not to think of brains being dashed out on the rocks!
I loved looks on my children's faces.
And the entire thing only cost us $15 dollars with tip. Not bad for a family of 6!

Things I Have Learned

1. If you thought it would only take 2 days to make a piñata, you were wrong. It takes a week.

2. If you put said piñata in the oven--it will dry faster. Then, it will crack open from balloon expansion.
3. If you make a papier mâché paste of 2 parts flour and 1 part water, then leave it on your counter for a week, it will ferment.

4. You might try using Elmer's Glue instead of the flour/water mix. It doesn't ferment.
5. If you buy a bag of candy on Thursday, but do not have a piñata until a week later on Saturday, you will have a much smaller bag of candy.

6. The more weird protrusions on your piñata, the better. (Toilet paper tubes work well).
7. Crêpe paper tassels add even more to your weird protrusions.

8. Little girls will enjoy putting little crêpe paper flowers all over the piñata. Little boys will enjoy covering the carpet with little bits of crêpe paper.
9. It is very fun to watch your kids (and all the neighbors) try to crack open the piñata.

10. After making one piñata it will seem like you have filled your piñata quota for life. And you will be right!