Invitation to Shalana's 9th Birthday Party

Get your pencils sharpened!
On Sunday evening, November 20th, you are expected to be in class, on time and ready for a School Birthday for Shalana.

If you are unable to be in attendance, we will need a signed note from your mother.

School Administrators
Richard S. Weiland Chief Superintendent
Verlaine V. Weiland Cook

Grandparents Rich & Verlaine Weiland, left; Shalana Weiland, right.

We were excited to be invited to Shalana's 9th birthday party. (Steve and Marci Weiland's Shalana Kay.) Grandma and Grandpa Weiland were going to have it at their house. Each year her birthday is in a theme at Grandma's house. Shalana would love to be a teacher, so she requested that this birthday be in a "school" theme. We were invited to be there Sunday evening, and as we walked into the house, we were totally spellbound.

The whole living room was rearranged and mostly emptied out, so that it became an old time schoolroom. Rich had borrowed six real desks, and they had it set up just like school, in rows. We had a name tag on our desk, a ruler, a tablet and a new pencil.

Then, when school was called to order by a genuine teacher's bell, we all stood and recited the "Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag" with our hands over our hearts, all looking very solemnly at the huge flag attached to the pole lamp in front. Verlaine had some of her own schoolbooks, and even of her dad's, and the desk had been in the family for years. You will see in the picture the desk has the books and the lamp (lit), and a big, shiny apple. Also a ruler, of course. Beside it was a huge dictionary, open on a high stand.

All the pictures were off the cabinet, being replaced by Shalana's at different ages. A giant world map was on the wall. A B C's were pinned on the draperies. Everywhere you looked, it was perfection to be an old schoolroom. Shalana has a beloved American Girl doll, Abbey, which had a desk just her size beside Shalana's.

Then, of course, there was the mischief of two students, Steve and Marci, passing notes in class. On the slide show is a slide of the notes. What fun! Then it was lunch time. Pizza delivered, and cute, clear plastic glasses of veggies with the dip in the bottom sitting on each desk. Her mother had brought cupcakes, of course, so you will see the cupcakes and we each got to choose one.

Then, after lunch, it was birthday gift time. Shalana had a desk for herself to sit on in the front to open her gifts, so we could all see. She is so sweet and appreciative. We just wish we could have showered her with many things, but we knew better than to get carried away. She will have another party for the family on Marci's side this evening, so she will have more gifts than she can count, likely. Then picture time. All this time, Marci and Steve were taking digitals and movies and Rich had a sound digital going.

So, he produced this precious slide show, and in the morning it was tucked into our paper box as he went by to work. I have really enjoyed it, and finally, with the photo editor's tutoring, I was able to make a copy, but it was too big to send via e-mail.

Betty Droel
MoundsView, MN