OMG - completely manic - but think it went well........

[QueenOfQuotes]

Well DS1's friends left 1 1/2hrs ago. The house is nearly sorted again (well sort of LOL).

Stayed up until 3.30 this morning - finishing off the baking and icing cakes, Went shopping this morning for the last few bits.

All but 3 of the children turned up. One (the step-dad) called at 12.30 today to say he'd only just got the invitation and was sorry but the DS couldn't make it.

The other 2 that couldn't come were the DS's of one of my closest friends (whoo's children are my DS's best friends) who couldn't come because she'd had to go up to Scotland as her little brother (34yrs old) had died yesterday - daft woman that she is (meant in the nicest possible way was apologising as DS1 wouldn't get his present until next Thursday!)

Anyhow, 9 children (including my two). The weather was nice, so I had the back door open, and they spent 99.99% of the time racing from one end of the garden into the house, round the table to the end of the living room........and back again. Didn't bother with many games - did pin the nose on the clown (which they weren't too fussed about)and pass the parcel (which they enjoyed and I was darned if they weren't playing that after I was sat wrapping the blooming things up at 2.30 this morning LOL).

Loads of my cakes were eaten, as well as lots of jelly and icecream, and the 3 mum's that did stay were very nice....but two of them left two of us "nodding in agreement" as they dicussed how much better value for money Barbados is for family holidays rather than Jamaica - and how it was cheaper than the £5000 they spent on the holiday to Florida this summer .

They were impressed at the homemade stuff, and even more so when I produced the homemade birthday cake saying "ooo you're showing us up now" and then continuing to say how cheap they thought their birthday parties were going to be LOL - at around £150, including hall hire, entertainer and food ( - the entire party from invites to party bags ( containg piece of cake, balloon, lollipop, party 'mask' and 'hooter' thing - from a cheap pack) cost me only £20

He hasn't opened all his presents yet, as DH wanted to him save some until he got back from work, but they included - a £10 Woolworths voucher and £5 cash from the triplets; a massive (500 page) colouring book and crayola 'make your own piggy bank' set from one of the little girls (she's given him a third present which feels like a book - but is being saved until DH is home) and a lovely tin with crayons, felttips and a little colouring book from one of the other children.

One little boy (one of DS1's friends from nursery last year) wet himself about 1/2hr into the party (thankfully he's the same size as DS1 so I gave him some dry clothes) - and some of the other children then decided to call him a baby, and then when he cried a cry baby - so we had a few tears from him (though when his mum - a friend of mine - picked him up and stayed and chatted for a while he didn't want to leave - so don't think it affected him too badly).

Another little boy fell over and bumped his cheek on the corner of one of my dining rooms chairs (cue LOTS of crying, and "I want to go home"'s from him, and his mum saying "well you're not goung home (so I guess my party wasn't too bad )

Then one of the identical sisters got upset because her sister and the other little girl wouldn't be her friend (so she befrieded DS2 instead).

They all seemed happy enough when they left so it must have been ok.

It certainly sounds like everyone had fun.....well done you

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You can now collapse with exhaustion after a job well done. I put so much into my children's parties I am worn out when it's all over.

My DS had his yesterday which went really well - it's his birthday tomorrow though so two lots of excitement! Bought him a Thomas the tank engine desk which we are going to put together tonight but I know he's love the Tonka toy that DD will give him (in the sale half price in Toysrus. He will freak when he sees it.

Put your feet up QoQ and have a glass of wine. Cheers.

Thanks - I have to admit I keep having moments of "OMG did those 'posh' parents think it was cr*p type thing" - but I know that all of them had fun - as I could see they were - and really I don't give a flying monkey's what the parents think

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All that matters is that your DS loved it, you put loads of effort into it!

Socci - it wasn't anything fancy - a sponge cake with butter icing (very blue icing LOL), some sugar coated chocolate chips round the edge, and some in the middle spelling "taffy" and the number 5 - also made from the chocolates,then 5 candles on it

Glad you all had a great time

Well done.

We gave DS a real old fashioned party in the village hall, amongst other things I made buns with pale blue icing and stuck love hearts on them, but did it too early and they kind of fizzed, to which DH announced in front of all my friends, good job they are pre schoolers, they can't read anyway.

But it was, in incredibly bad taste to discuss holidays and name values. Discuss by all means, but values,I don't think so.

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AM

By all means, but stick them on at the last minute, not 24 hours before.

the fairy cakes had green icing (martian green lol) as I had a crazy thought at 2.45 this morning that martian green icing would be fun

It worked though - and plenty of them went - looked quite cool with red glace cherries on the top.

I thought it was bad taste too to talk about 'values' - but hey - my party only cost £20 from start to finish - and I'm dead chuffed LOL.

I just have to hope that DS1 doesn't make good friends with those particular children or I may have to listen to more 'value' talk

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Sounds like everyone had fun, QoQ! And for what it's worth, I (and ds1 for that matter) always enjoy the well-organised DIY parties much more, they tend to be smaller, cosier and the kids really enjoy themselves. When we've gone to soft-play parties etc, the staff don't really seem to want to be there and I feel it's much more impersonal and cold.

That said, we always get someone else to do the parties because I am not organised and fall apart just thinking about it, so you have my utmost admiration

Anyway, I don't think the 'posh' mums would have been comparing anyway other than favourably - particularly the comment of "ooo you're showing us up now". If they're like me, they'd love to throw their own parties but live in mortal dread of doing all the food prep, organisation and having a large number of children tearing round the house and now feel a bit guilty that they didn't put the same effort in for their children

OMG QoQ - I've got all this to come next year!!! Taking notes from your post.......

DS's first birthday party yesterday was more of an adults affair. Kind of explains the lack of choccy cake up the walls I guess

just re-read. It sounds like a complete hoot for your DS.

I sincerely hope you rewarded yourself at the end fo the day

Georgina it's funny you should say that about soft play areas.

Just this minute come back from a party at the 'newer' (and supposedly better) soft play area in Town (well edge of town actually - 45 minute walk there, and 55 minutes back LOL). I'd never been there before, but I'd been to the 'other' one (and one in the next town).

Have to say, the kids had LOADS of fun, however, the organisation of the place was cr*p.

When we got there, another party was still going on, they were just about to start eating when we arrived, but were allowed to play on the soft play after they'd eaten. This one 'started', and after about 1hr (it was a 2hr affair) another party group arrived! The place was TINY, only one 'eating' space and I heard lots of parents (from all 3 party groups) complaining how squashed and disorganised it was - talk about getting as much money as possible for doing as little as possible.

Because there were 3 party groups using the same little soft play area, it was not only difficult to keep tabs on your own children, but hard for the children (especially the ones who's birthday it was) to play with just their friends!
They sat down to eat - just plain wooden tables, no 'party' stuff on them all - not even party hats , had a 'boxed' meal (which they all loved) followed by icecream. The wall were pretty plain, apart from a few balloons and 'happy birthday' signs, and when they went in to eat, they still hadn't written the birthday children's names on the little blackboard!

But then the mum hadn't been told that in the massive cost they didn't supply a birthday cake - so had to dash to Sainsbury to get one. She was really disappointed, and said that if she'd been TOLD that they didn't supply a cake (Wacky Warehouse does) she'd have made one.

The kids had LOADS of fun, but it struck me (and other mum's there - who, BTW were MUCH nicer than the ones at DS1's party yesterday ) that it really was set up to maximise profits, and not to provide good fun.

You can book 'exclusive' use of the soft play, but it's ludicrously expensive.

Yep, we've been disappointed with the service at the soft play places before - last one we went to with ds1 took his food away from him when he popped to the toilet - always a little on the sensitive side it really upset him but they didn't seem to give a toss. A party at home, of course, you realise that the kid is going to be back in a minute or if you realise you made a mistake can always rustle up something else for them to eat when they get back.

We did a party at our local community centre this year for them - a local company does themed entertainment and a big blow up bouncy tunnel thing. Was one of the better ones as the two who ran it were really good and had lots of games for the children. Turned out to be a really expensive option though as over half the children we invited didn't come as there was a chickenpox epidemic

On the whole, as the year comes round to birthday time I start feeling dread at the whole organisational rigmarole - which is daft because it's supposed to be a celebration and to be fun!

I am glad the party went well, I was thinking of yo this morning actually as I was getting a few bits for dd party next week.