HaRrY PoTteR b'DaY

Dori Schienbein of Barnum wanted to share the idea her daughter came up with to celebrate Schienbein’s 10-year-old grandson’s birthday. “For a 10-year-old boy, four hours in the elementary school gym with nine friends, a 12-year-old-sister and friend, a 3-year-old brother, mama, papa and grandma. What could be more fun?
“I am the grandma of Johnathon Corcoran and was privileged to attend the party. My daughter teaches at a small elementary school in Bloomington, Minn. She arranged to rent the gym and kitchen for the party on Jan. 10. The theme was “Harry Potter” and decorated the tables and the gym. The children practiced their “wizard” skills as though they were in a summer session of Hogwarts School.
“We had cookies in the shape of lightening bolts and eyeglasses and a piñata in the shape of a broom. There were relay teams and a game of Quiditch. I was Professor McGonagle helping to maintain decorum. We used glow-in-the-dark wands instead of candles on the cake.”