Birthday time!

Every year I say I'm not gonna do it, yet here I am again. The gears start turning once school lets out, and once the seed is planted, the planning extravaganza begins...yes, folks, it is time to celebrate the kiddo's birthday.

This year he turns 7, and I had been trying for a couple of months to convince him that we should do something really special and take a friend or 2 to an amusement park. Nah. Then we received an invitation from a lovely little girl in his class who was having a regular old traditional party (which I LOVE!!) and asked for donations for a local charity in lieu of gifts. When I mentioned this possibility, my typically empathetic to a fault child nearly crumbled at the thought of not receiving any gifts...but, alas, I suppose that is part of the magic at this age, so the typical birthday extravaganza is underway for mid-August. 

After last year, I swore NEVER AGAIN would I do such a party. It was a smashing success and was at our local YMCA, but we had to provide and set everything up. I ended up spending WAY more time and money than I needed to. I paid attention to details that nobody probably even noticed. But, we had an inflatable slide and a gym full of Mario Bros themed activities followed by cake in a room with about a gazillion helium balloons and carefully decorated cake table. Our cake baked by a dear friend was absolutely perfect, and a good time was had by all. But at the end of the day, I just dropped from the stress of preparation and baking dozens of yellow-frosted star cookies that the dear child said did not look like stars?!?!?

This year, I am taking the show to a bounce place that does not allow you to bring in anything from the outside. No balloons, decorations, snacks...everything you may want you have to purchase through them. Because they charge outrageous prices for things like balloons and themed decor, I went pretty minimal and will pay a flat rate per child. The only thing I am doing myself is the goody bags, which they do allow you to bring, and my dear friend will again provide the cake (Pokemon this year.) All we have to do is show up, party and leave. The only thing I overdid this year was probably the guest list. At over 20 children, I am hoping for either 15 or 20 (makes sense the way the pricing tier works.) With it being summer time and vacations, etc, I expect there will be people who will decline. But, the more the merrier, right?? Birthday #7, here we come!! (Next year will be smaller for sure...HA!!)