London - Christmas Children's Party

[IlanaK]

It was suggested today at the summer picnic at Coram Fields that a Christmas children's party would be a nice idea. I am more than happy to organise this but want to gage opinions first. Coram Fields would be a great venue again assuming we could get it. Here are some questions for you to answer or put suggestions if you are interested.

1. Venue - would Coram Fields suit everyone again or can you think of somewhere else?

2. Would you want to attend during the week or on a weekend?

3)I was thinking of a bring a dish or two party (sort of like today) and we would decorate the hall all christmassy and have christmas crackers for the kids, etc. Also maybe some inside christmassy activities such as art stuff, games etc. Is this ok?

4. WOuld anyone want it to be more multicultrural - a seasonal party? I am Jewish so I would certainly understand if people preferred this.

5. OK - the big question is cost. I know that today was free and people just made donations to Binkie as the hall cost £32. However, for a proper christmas party I think we would have to charge. My reason for this is partly the venue - if say 15 families came (about what came today I think), that is £2 per family for the venue. Also, there would be some cost for the crackers, decorations, etc. How would people feel about this?

Ok, so, this is just an idea at this stage, but if we want to do it I am guessing we have to book quickly. If people aren't interested, then I will not be insulted! However, I am happy to do it if people want to come.

What do you all think?????

PS blu is on holiday I think but is sure to be back by the 19th!

Ilana - I am right in thinking that you've got the Santa costume? Dh is 6'2" is that going to be ok? Do we need any accessories? Sack? etc

Marina - I don't think there is anywhere to heat things up, but I love falafal cold

Welshmum - 6'2" could be a problem. It is just a standard cheapy woolies one. Not sure what we can do though.

OK, cold falafel it will be then!

Marina, there is a kitchen off the Band Room but it's very basic - if there is an oven you'd certainly have to bring the baking tray! Suggest you give Coram's Fields a ring and ask - they're really helpful.

Hiya, just to confirm that I'll definately be coming with DS and DD. Not sure about DH but mum has offered to come along to give me a hand with the children and food etc.

I'd like to confirm that I will be coming with dp and dd. Would a rice salad be OK? Or I could cook something else if there was a request???

Ilana / Welshmum I can probably get a post sack from work. It's not a traditional Santa sack in that it's blue and has 'recycled paper' written on the side. But it's a good size and shape.

Also, Ilana, I didn't have as many leftovers in terms of paper plates / cups from dd's party as I'd thought though I have got some. So if anyone else can also provide some more ... ?

And finally, in terms of my Christmas story reading extravaganza, does anyone have any real favourite stories they'd like to hear with a festive bent? Or shall I just do a favourite? Being of Jewish background I'm not that hot on Christmas stories ...

Sure , I will help with Streamers. So I should get there early to help decorate hall?
I shall bring some uniquely Australian Christmas food.

We would like to come, too! I'll bring some brownies, without nuts, if ks will let me have a slice of her clementine cake!

Maomao - I am afraid that there is a waiting list for this party as we put a maximium at 30 families. I am still waiting for confirmation from all families on the list, so you may still get lucky. I have added you to the waiting list below.

Thanks to everyone else who has confirmed and vounteered for food. I have amended the list below.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE everyone add yourself to the list for food/drink so that we know what you are bringing! And also confirm whether or not you are coming.

Revised list:

Date and Time - December 18th from 12:30 to 4:30pm

Venue - Coram Fields near Russell Square tube station (large park and playground). We will be in the Band Room

Families attending:

CONFIRMED:
IlanaK
Cori
prefernot
ks
sis
binkie
marina
tigermoth
arabica
biketastic
EvaD
welshmum
unicorn
motherinferior
billijo
hoxtonchick
skmoo
zinger
susies
piximon
merrygoround

NOT CONFIRMED:
aelita
blu
prufrock
yingers74
onlineid
JJ
Edam
Kaz33
charliecatthenonsmoker

waiting list - sophable, twinkie, wills, nickiey, maomao

Activities:

1. colouring festive pictures (I will provide)
2. card making with ks and marina 3)decorating biscuits with sis and binkie 4)pin the tail on the reindeer with marina
3. dancing to music with bubbles added (bubble machine - tigermoth) 7)pass the parcel 8)story telling/singng session (Ilana, Arabica and prefernot)

Decorations - tigermoth (streamers) and cori. Biketastic lights.

Tidying up - arabica and biketastic and EvaD

Santa - Welshmum's dh (yippee!) Bring your own present wrapped and labled for your child and Santa will give them out (limit £5 spent per pressie).

Savoury Foods:

1. crips, breadsticks, other finger type crunchy food (IlanaK) (unicorn and tigermoth- crisps)
2. raw cut up veggies and dips, hummous, etc (biketastic - veggies and dips plus salad pots)(unicorn - veggies)
3. cold meats - salamis, ham, chicken, sausages, etc (motherinferior and EvaD- sausages)
4. sandwhiches or rolls (welshmum - rolls) (EvaD - egg and ham sandwhiches)
5. cheese (prefernot)
6. falafal - marina
7. australian christmas food - cori
8. rice salad - meerygoround

Sweet foods:

1. mini cakes or a large cake (ks and pixiemom) (billijo - rice crispie cakes) (tigermoth - flapjacks)
2. biscuits (hoxtonchick)
3. chocolates or chocolate bars (skmoo)
4. jelly (binkie)

drinks:

1. juice (apple juice carton - prefernot) (sis - squash)
2. soft drinks like cola
3. water (zinger)

Paperplates, cups, etc - (prefernot, susies)

As you can see this is by no means a definative list as I am lacking in imagination. If you want to bring something not on the list, please do.

Ahhh well, that's what I get for being away for so long! I'll keep my fingers crossed....

Ok, I have picked up the Santa outfit from nursery today and I would say that it is not going to fit a man as tall as your dh welshsmum. Not sure what to do. We either need a small santa or a bigger costume - but I don't have one.

I also got enough christmas stickers for all the kids to have one to wear. I also bought some choc bars for the pass the parcel. I realise htat the little ones won't be able to eat it, but it was all I could afford for so many kids. I will make 2 seperate parcels so that the kids do not have to wait forever for their turn.

Afraid I cannot offer DP, because although a shortish sort of bloke he will also be recovering from his two Christmas parties the previous day.

Blu is away, I'll get onto her.

Do you think it would fit him if he tucked the trousers into boots? That might save the day.....

POssibly it would fit him tucked into boots. How broad shouldered is he? Perhaps I could get it to you ahead of time if you live in london and you could play around with it and see how it fits?

Mind boggles. Sorry, Welshmum

Can confirm and if you want DP can be santa, he is 5ft 9ish, average weight and build ,a born entertainer and brilliant with children of all ages.

Shall we bring some fruit - bananas, grapes, apples ? Or we could bring some dreaded soft drinks, whichever required.

i should be coming. Do i need to bring anything? so sorry I have not read this thread regularly. i have put the date in my diary though!

Sounds like I should give up and let Kaz33's dh take over (sob) but I want it noted that we were very willing!

Kaz33 - that would be excellent for your dh to be santa as he sounds like he will fit the outfit just fine. He will need boots of some kind as there aren't any with the outfit. Welshmum - I am truely appreciative of your dh offering! Just a shame he is a bit too tall!

Kaz33 and yingers - we definately seem to be low on people bringing drinks. It does not have to be soft drinks (I was thinking those more for adults than kids), but water or juice would be great.

Updated list below. I have added the part about each family giving £1 or £1.50 to cover cost of hiring room (£35) as I forgot that before and although it was mentioned, it is way way down on this thread now.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE everyone add yourself to the list for food/drink so that we know what you are bringing! And also confirm whether or not you are coming.

Revised list:

Date and Time - December 18th from 12:30 to 4:30pm

Venue - Coram Fields near Russell Square tube station (large park and playground). We will be in the Band Room

Cost - £1 or £1.50 per family as the room costs £35 to hire

Families attending:

CONFIRMED:
IlanaK
Cori
prefernot
ks
sis
binkie
marina
tigermoth
arabica
biketastic
EvaD
welshmum
unicorn
motherinferior
billijo
hoxtonchick
skmoo
zinger
susies
piximon
merrygoround
yingers74
kazz33

NOT CONFIRMED:
aelita
blu
prufrock
onlineid
JJ
Edam
charliecatthenonsmoker

waiting list - sophable, twinkie, wills, nickiey, maomao

Activities:

1. colouring festive pictures (Ilana)
2. card making with ks and marina 3)decorating biscuits with sis and binkie 4)pin the tail on the reindeer with marina
3. dancing to music with bubbles added (bubble machine - tigermoth) 7)pass the parcel with chocolates inside (Ilana) 8)story telling/singng session (Ilana, Arabica and prefernot)

Decorations - tigermoth (streamers) and cori. Biketastic lights.

Tidying up - arabica and biketastic and EvaD

Santa - Kazz33's dh (yippee!) Bring your own present wrapped and labled for your child and Santa will give them out (limit £5 spent per pressie).

Savoury Foods:

1. crips, breadsticks, other finger type crunchy food (IlanaK) (unicorn and tigermoth- crisps)
2. raw cut up veggies and dips, hummous, etc (biketastic - veggies and dips plus salad pots)(unicorn - veggies)
3. cold meats - salamis, ham, chicken, sausages, etc (motherinferior and EvaD- sausages)
4. sandwhiches or rolls (welshmum - rolls) (EvaD - egg and ham sandwhiches)
5. cheese (prefernot)
6. falafal - marina
7. australian christmas food - cori
8. rice salad - meerygoround

Sweet foods:

1. mini cakes or a large cake (ks and pixiemom) (billijo - rice crispie cakes) (tigermoth - flapjacks)
2. biscuits (hoxtonchick)
3. chocolates or chocolate bars (skmoo)
4. jelly (binkie)

drinks:

1. juice (apple juice carton - prefernot) (sis - squash)
2. soft drinks like cola
3. water (zinger)

Paperplates, cups, etc - (prefernot, susies)

As you can see this is by no means a definative list as I am lacking in imagination. If you want to bring something not on the list, please do.

I'll give DP the good news !

We'll sign up for juice ( orange, apple )

I could bring a couple of bottles of wine?