The Big #10

After our snowshoeing adventure last week, we quickly headed to my niece's big birthday celebration at 3,2,1 - Bounce! in Mukilteo. Similar to Jump Planet and Pump It Up, the party locale was a large room found in a inconspicuous, industrial warehouse. Once you walk in the door, you are surrounded by an array of bright red, blue, & yellow blow-up jungle gyms, slides, jousting arenas, relays, mazes and dodgeball courts. If you frequent small-town carnivals or festivals, you are probably familiar with these unique, colorful urban playlands.

My sister rented the entire place for the big party and about 30 people (kids and adults, alike) were sliding, swishing and dodging together. Because of our previous activity, we arrived a bit late so we were only able to toss a few baskets, chat and take a quick run on some of the inflated play areas.

One of the larger toys involves an Eliminator-type of contraption; you will only be able to understand this term if you have watched American Gladiators - and as you can tell, I must sheepishly admit I have tuned in! It is set up so that two people can start at the opening portal and race through various challenges throughout the maze of inflated plastic. As play time was quickly coming to a close, I helped my 2-year-old nephew navigate up a small plastic obstacle, squeeze through narrow "rolling-pin" pillars, scamper up a 12-foot, plastic climbing wall and slide down an enormous slide; he finished way before me, of course!

The next phase involved moving into the equally-colorful party room. People feasted on large slabs of Papa John's, while their cups ran over with soda from the self-service dispenser. As we sang the traditional birthday salutation, our little nephew was not swayed by the temptations of pizza, merriment or balloons - he simply wanted more bounce time! Unfortunately, another party had moved in to the play area, and he was restricted from the bouncing fun - oh, the injustice. Fortunately, when the fluffy cake finally arrived on the scene, a serious sweet tooth calmed his anxiety and he devored the luscious layers of chocolately-goodness with pure, unbridled delight.

Although very tired, we decided to stay for the last phase: The Grand "Opening of Presents" Bonanza. As the food area was being cleared, we were ushered in to the gift opening nook, which was an area slightly larger than a walk-in closet. Silly string and wrapping paper flew through the air as she tore into each colorful package. After she ripped open our gift, earrings and a personal fondue pot (cooked by votive-candle heat), we bid our goodbyes so we could speed home and utterly collapse... what a glorious, busy day!