First birthdays!

[Bobsmum]

DS is one today!!! In about 3 hours time my house will be full of babies, toddlers, mums and dads. MIL has trashed ds' favourite rabbit (toy) in the washing machine and I've not decorated the cake or blown up any balloons. I need to mop the kitchen floor too - any offers?

All I want is a cup of tea!

One year already and ds is cute as a button but with a destructive streak

Pop to the shops and buy a cake (or get someone to do it for you) - go to a balloon shop and get them to blow up some nice helium baloons then you can send the kids home with one each.

Give the floor a quick once over with a slightly damp mop - after the party will all need to be done again anyway.

As for the rabbit - get another one or hope to god it is forgotten when all fantastic b'day gifts are received - if not persecute her and get her to get another one.

(Thanks for putting in (toy) was just about to report you to RSPCA!!

Just realised other current "rabbit" thread - thought I should clarify!

Would be ringing a different organisation if your son had one of those bunnies!!

Boe you sound like the queen of organisation, ever thought about becoming a party planner, you can plan the next childrens party I have! I tend to just run around like a chicken with it's head cut off, achieving nothing but making more mess.

Bobsmum, my dd was 1 last week and we had the party yesterday...

I was dreading it a bit as I had no idea what to expect. We had 12 kids and their parents and it was such fun! The kids were so good and played with each other really nicely. The really dodgy looking cake I had made went down a treat (most of it seemed to end up in the carpet) and all the parents seemed to guzzle loads of wine and have a good time.

I was completely disorganised too, I blew up the balloons about 5 mins before they came. Iced the cake with shop bought RoyalIce (which is brilliant, in a tub, you stick it in the microwave and it sets in no time) and then stuck a load of sweets all over and bunged some sparkers in it which the little ones adored.

So I wouldn't worry if I were you, it will be good fun whatever!

Huzzah! Success! Everyone has cleared off now (except MIL). Fantastic haul of pressies and cake totally devoured. Older sprogs were sent away with a balloon and a smartie (just the one, mind). 8 pack balloons from Clintons - we're too common for helium and bought cakes.

Didn't have wine though, wouldn't be able to get the stains out of ds' bib

Not a queen of organisation at all - just try and do the minimum and M&S or Sainsbury's cakes are always better than mine and DD saw the fairy castle in Sainsbury's and has already informed me that she does not want Nanny Valerie to make her a cake next year but wants that!!

As for the balloons am allergic to latex so cannot blow them up and kids seem to like the helium ones.

Party bags order on line (as told to me by mumsnetters!).

As for the cleaning, your house will be a tip anyway so do the bare minimum, wipe every surface including floor with Mr Muscle wipe and will look shiney and smell clean and fresh, making you look like housekeeper extrordinaire!!

WOuld love to plan parties for a living - would be better than planning a group of men's lives - is more like working at a nursery sometimes - but heck I love them and they pay me proper money!!

Congrats to your little Birthday Boy Bobsmum Glad the party went well, I'll bet your DS was whacked out afterwards though ?

Boe I am truely in awe, you've made it sound so simple, pity when ever I have to arrange childrens parties it becomes so hectic and disorganised. I think that I'll take your advice and just buy everything pre-done!

Oh yeah and congratulations bobsmum on pulling of a sucessful party.