Shirley's party advice thread part 2

[stealthsquiggle]

...can I take the liberty of starting another thread, since the other one filled up?

Not Supermum at all. Just a bit party mad

Oh DW, that sucks. She knows you're struggling and still won't offer to help!

Sis should be having her baby any day now and I'll be near you visiting. I'll pop over with some dairy-free choc and an un-mumsnetty hug if you like?

Ha ha i thought about her this morn as no chance to get to the group. You're welcome to visit or i can do a meet up! Clinic say my blood is at critical level and im at risk for 12 weeks from embolism. They asked if my mum could help and i laughed my head off. Wheni rang after my diagnosis, crying saying i was scared as they wouldnt let me home as i could die. She said i'd caught her on the hop as she'd lost her slippers. Then she told me it wasnt fair on dd1 to visit me in hospital. I hung up that day.

She really is a bit crap at this grandparent stuff, isn't she, DW (sorry - no offence intended) - what use is crying over the 'phone to you, FGS?

DrsW - can DH get some parental leave to help out, or is his job still too new?

His job is too new. He's only been there 4 weeks and this is the first 'proper'job he's had since his business went bust nearly 2yrs ago. He's cleaned toilets and all sorts so we just darent risk it. I did ask my mum to come and help about 2 weeks ago. She turned up at 11.30 left at 2 and literally ate lunch and left. Whats worse is when dd1 was born she did everything for me. Everything.

What i cant shake is how scared i was. I rang her from hospital on the fri sobbing that i really might die. She didnt visit me until the sunday at 3pm for an hour. If ever one of my girls ring me scared they'll die, i'd be there at the first chance. And she lives 50 mins away. Mil is 45 mins. My mum even rang mil to check how long it takes her and said ask her, she's closer.

But its okay, im going to book dd some extra sessions at preschool i think. That will take the pressure off a bit.

Never mind the Grandparenting, it sounds like she's fairly crap at the parenting too!

My Mum would never make any 'world's best Mum' lists but I'm sure if I rang her saying I was scared I was dying, she'd be with me as soon as she could be and she lives 2 hours away! MIL would (and has) booked holiday or swapped shifts or jobs around so that she can help with the children even when I haven't been poorly.

I hope you can get the extra pre school sessions and it helps a bit - and that you're feeling better soon.

My problem would be getting rid of my DM under those circs (not that I would want to, but you know what I mean) - in fact, she has a tendency to "adopt" my friends, if they are not careful. So sorry yours is being so crap, DrsW.

Hmmm she hasnt even phoned my brother since they visited dd2 together nearly 6 weeks ago and they live in the same town. She's been decorating her lounge. Fair enough she's busy but i'm surprised that knowing how ill we've been that she'd commit to it because if i needed her she would have had wallpaper hanging. She never used to be this crap but i think it stems from losing our house.

We had to leave in middle of the night as creditors from business came and threatened to set us alight. Stayed at my mums, we went to job centre every day to sit and wait, cab to sit and wait etc. We had to default on mortgage and bills etc. We had nothing. She charged me £2.00 for printer ink to send the letters to all my utilities etc and half for food etc whilst we were there. It saddens me. I should point out that they own three houses and she doesnt work due to inheritances. I often want to post in relationships to ask if shes toxic or just crap.

In case i killed the thread.... Look at this for wonderland inspiration.

www.familyfreshcooking.com/2010/05/26/oc-tea-party-in-wonderland-part-2/

Those wonderland pictures look beautiful. How wonderful it must be to do that for a living!

Just posting to keep the thread going too! Have had DS out in the garden this morning dressed as a knight to take a picture of him to make invitations. Vistaprint keep emailing me with good offers (eg 100% off so would just pay postage) so thought I'd get some personalised invitations made.

DH is coming round to the idea if getting a bouncy castle - I did suggest that if he refused then he could be in charge if organised party games! We migh ask our neighbours if we can out it on the paddock that is at the end of our garden, would take a fence panel out do could access it easily and it'd leave the garden totally free for games.

*in charge of organising

paddock would be fantastic!!!! we've got a huge garden but its all polytunnel/fruitcage and veg patch. im so annoyed as i keep looking out thinking if i could turf the lot, it would make for a fabulous pink garden party.

Okay gather round, I've narrowed DD's service down to two potential dates in the summer so i'm on the verge of booking. I just need to measure the gown to try to ensure a best fit. Now i said i'd ditch the family tree theme for pink fest but now i'm thinking can i get away with pink family tree theme?

Like this:
www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/pink-tree-vector-222605
with our family tree has grown..etc etc

I'm thinking pink skeleton leaves scattered around, family tree printed up for family to see.

One of these for guests to complete?
www.fingerprinttree.co.uk/

I can still do it all bunting and girly but the theme might keep me on track a bit more?

What about these instead of flowers? cheaper or not summer garden enough?
forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_diy_crepe-paper-tissue-paper-rose-topiaries?MsdVisit=1

I'm back!!!

Will look at pink family trees tomorrow as I'm totally shattered now and unable to formulate party suggestions.

Did you have fun, Blathers?

DrsW I think pink trees could work really well - you could use these in all sorts of ways.

Personally, I also like the topiary trees and think they would be perfectly at home in a pink summer garden party theme.

We had a lovely time. Glad we had 2 days in the park though as there was loads left we wanted to do at the end of Saturday. Staying in the hotel was fun and possibly DS's favourite bit of the whole trip - sat on his camp bed building the new lego we bought in the shop at legoland :) He had a great time.

Feeling a bit bereft now as I spent most of last week making cakes and I've got none to do now! Must stop though as I'm still supposed to be doing weight watchers. I managed to only put 1lb on during last week which is amazing considering the amount of food I ate but it's still supposed to be coming off, not going on however slowly!

Will have to muck in with DW's party. Off to check out links.

Has sis had baby yet?

Not yet. EDD is the 24th

Hello party experts. I have tried and tried to find the old thread as it had so many good ideas but I have failed. Can anyone do me a link? Or failing that, ideas/advice for a 9yo girl's birthday sleepover?

Thanks xx

Greedygirl are you suggesting that the standard of advice has gone down in thread 2? that would be because Shirley ran off and left us

There is at least one link to rhw old thread somewhere at the beginning of this one, but I can't find it on my phone.

old thread hopefully

The first thread is here

No idea what's happened to Shirley, she's abandoned us

Its not cos shirley left, we've had some fab ideas between us. Its cos its narrowed down to us few and we just aint having enough parties between us! We need to compile a list of ideas for age ranges or something or themes.

Not at all!!! But I just couldn't see anything for 9yo little girls on this particular thread. Thanks for the link. I will be back if I cannot see anything.

What sorts of things does she like Greedygirl? Do you want an American style popcorn and movies sleepover or something with a theme?