Remember J.J. saying that all the time on "Good Times"? As an adult, I see that show in a whole different light. But that's a different blog post.
ANYWAY (ever notice how much I use that word??), today was Mike's dinosaur birthday party. We had a group of four friends (those that did RSVP...three others didn't show that never did RSVP...) which was actually a good number. They are four-year-olds after all. And a wild little group when they were all together.
When they had all arrived, we sat them around the table with these wooden dinosaur forms and lots of paint. Making a mess is always good, and a mess with paint AND dinosaurs was definitely a hit. Plus, it was a fun little trinket for them to take home.
When they had all arrived, we sat them around the table with these wooden dinosaur forms and lots of paint. Making a mess is always good, and a mess with paint AND dinosaurs was definitely a hit. Plus, it was a fun little trinket for them to take home.Cost: $0.50 for each paint color and $1.00 for each dinosaur.
While Alan read the boys some dinosaur books (of which we probably have at least 20), I cleaned up the mess and got the pizza and fruit and Caprisuns ready. Gosh, what is it about those silver pouch drinks? I always wanted Mom to buy those, and she never did. Maybe I didn't ask, but remember how the cool kids would bring those in their lunchboxes? Thankfully, I can relive my childhood fantasies through my kids. That's why you have kids, right? Anyway (there I go again), the pizza was scarfed, the fruit largely ignored, and the Caprisuns were transformed into fun toys once the Fruit Punch was gone. Success!
While Alan read the boys some dinosaur books (of which we probably have at least 20), I cleaned up the mess and got the pizza and fruit and Caprisuns ready. Gosh, what is it about those silver pouch drinks? I always wanted Mom to buy those, and she never did. Maybe I didn't ask, but remember how the cool kids would bring those in their lunchboxes? Thankfully, I can relive my childhood fantasies through my kids. That's why you have kids, right? Anyway (there I go again), the pizza was scarfed, the fruit largely ignored, and the Caprisuns were transformed into fun toys once the Fruit Punch was gone. Success!Cost: $28.00 for pizza (crazy, I know...Dominos wouldn't answer their phone, so we went the Pizza Hut route) and about $8.00 for fruit and $2.99 for Caprisuns.
Presents! Michael got some dinosaur toys (how did the parents know? ha!) and some outdoor toys. One mother called me about ten minutes before the party and said that she had been "really busy lately" (invites had been sent out at least two weeks pre-party), and she hadn't had time to buy Michael a present and could her son still come to the party? OK. Now, I don't want my kids to be all about the gifts. We don't have parties for our kids to stock up on presents because heaven knows we have toys coming out of our ears (which we do, btw, go through and give away from time to time). And I would much rather her child come than not come because he doesn't have a gift. But. Seriously? Has she never read the Child Birthday Party Attendance Guidebook? I'm just gonna say it. I thought that was a smidge tacky.
After some very messy cupcakes (totally forgot to light/blow out candles or sing "Happy Birthday"...must have gotten a bit preoccupied with cleaning up the two cupcakes that fell icing down on the front porch...oh well), we decorated these wooden picture frames below with dino stickers. I painted them last night to save some time, and the kids just put stickers on them. I took individual pictures of Michael with each guest and will send a copy home with the thank-you notes for each child to put in his frame.
Presents! Michael got some dinosaur toys (how did the parents know? ha!) and some outdoor toys. One mother called me about ten minutes before the party and said that she had been "really busy lately" (invites had been sent out at least two weeks pre-party), and she hadn't had time to buy Michael a present and could her son still come to the party? OK. Now, I don't want my kids to be all about the gifts. We don't have parties for our kids to stock up on presents because heaven knows we have toys coming out of our ears (which we do, btw, go through and give away from time to time). And I would much rather her child come than not come because he doesn't have a gift. But. Seriously? Has she never read the Child Birthday Party Attendance Guidebook? I'm just gonna say it. I thought that was a smidge tacky.
After some very messy cupcakes (totally forgot to light/blow out candles or sing "Happy Birthday"...must have gotten a bit preoccupied with cleaning up the two cupcakes that fell icing down on the front porch...oh well), we decorated these wooden picture frames below with dino stickers. I painted them last night to save some time, and the kids just put stickers on them. I took individual pictures of Michael with each guest and will send a copy home with the thank-you notes for each child to put in his frame.Cost: $5.00 for cupcakes and $1.00 for each frame and $6.00 for stickers and $1.00 for paint and $0.20 to develop each picture. 
Each boy was given the choice of a plastic dino to take home, too. There were lots of different kinds to choose from. Michael already had several like this and requested keeping a "meat eater". Sorry Vegan Dinosaur Friends. Don't they make a nice table display in our entryway? Side Brag Note: they are sitting on an antique-ish (meaning it's not really but looks a bit like one) dresser I recently bought from the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission and refinished.
Each boy was given the choice of a plastic dino to take home, too. There were lots of different kinds to choose from. Michael already had several like this and requested keeping a "meat eater". Sorry Vegan Dinosaur Friends. Don't they make a nice table display in our entryway? Side Brag Note: they are sitting on an antique-ish (meaning it's not really but looks a bit like one) dresser I recently bought from the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission and refinished.Cost: $0.88 for each dinosaur.
After the guests went home, Matthew and Michael were still so keyed up. As in, they were tearing around the house and popping balloons and having dino fights and shredding tissue paper and asking for more cupcakes (more sugar! more sugar!) and just generally driving their parents bonkers. So, we popped in a Dr. Seuss movie that my mother bought for them this past week. Calmed them right down. Gotta love that TV. Michael sat in this chair with his new dino hat over his eyes to watch the movie. Don't ask me how he could see.
After the guests went home, Matthew and Michael were still so keyed up. As in, they were tearing around the house and popping balloons and having dino fights and shredding tissue paper and asking for more cupcakes (more sugar! more sugar!) and just generally driving their parents bonkers. So, we popped in a Dr. Seuss movie that my mother bought for them this past week. Calmed them right down. Gotta love that TV. Michael sat in this chair with his new dino hat over his eyes to watch the movie. Don't ask me how he could see.Cost: $13 for balloons and $2.99 per dinosaur hat per child.
Michael had such a good time and was so proud to share his room and his toys and his birthday fun with his friends. He also practiced using some really fine birthday party social manners. Mama is proud. And, again, we are all Birthday Party Exhausted.
Total Birthday Party Cost: p*r*i*c*e*l*e*s*s
Michael had such a good time and was so proud to share his room and his toys and his birthday fun with his friends. He also practiced using some really fine birthday party social manners. Mama is proud. And, again, we are all Birthday Party Exhausted.Total Birthday Party Cost: p*r*i*c*e*l*e*s*s
(you saw that coming, didn't you?)
Sounds like a really fun party! I agree that is pretty tacky not to bring a gift. I mean you could at least stop by the dollar store and pick up a coloring book. But you never know, perhaps they have a financial situation and she couldn't afford a gift so she used busyness as an excuse. Still though I would take something my kids don't use and wrap that up!
ReplyDeleteI know...I wondered if it COULD be a financial issue (which would, of course, be totally different). And then I saw the kid's gap clothes and the huge SUV that mom brought him in. So, I'm pretty sure it's not $$...Like I said, it's not like Michael has to have a present...just the way she asked seemed a bit unorthodox...
ReplyDelete