The Party Diaries

In the beginning, there were birthday parties for the kids in our backyard. I started planning 3 months in advance. I designed the birthday cakes and the message printed inside the custom invitations. I'm embarrased but will admit to having postage stamps made with my daughter's picture. Thought also went into the thank you notes, the gift bags, and the food.




There were bubbles when my daughter {sitting next to grandma} turned 3.





A face painter, a bounce house.

And the cake! She loved fairies and princesses so I asked if Tinkerbell could be sitting on a flower petal. The butterflies, dragonflies, catepillars and colors for the table, plates, napkins and the cake itself, came from a favorite counting book "Beetle Bug's Party ".

Six weeks later, I made a waterpark in the backyard for my son's "2nd" birthday. I never really liked waterparks and avoided going to birthday parties given at waterparks when they were really young, so I thought I could bring the waterpark to my backyard.

There was the slip and slide.

The alligator slide.

The whale pool.

The car wash.

The pool with the basketball hoop and one with a palm tree.

The sandbox.

My kids watched this "Cars" movie everyday after watching it for the first time. So for his cake, I thought of having Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater driving through the desert.

Then came the pony rides, petting zoo, and bounce houses. The guest list grew when they started in school. These were the years when you would invite their entire class.

For his 3rd birthday {and last party}, we had a carnival beach party with hot dogs, cotton candy and snow cones.

Then there were more pony rides and more kids so the petting zoo got bigger.

The llama and the goat ate through our hedge.

This year, we added a tent with tables and chairs to accomodate the growing number of quests and keep everyone outside. But when it began to rain before the pizza arrived, we moved the tables inside. The kids had a blast running throughout the house while the dads played pool. The moms seemed so nervous and were taken by how calm I remained while the kids were taking out all the toys in their rooms and running through the house. What could I do? My husband thought I was great host, others {my sister} thought it was crazy.

The last party, my first evite. Hello Kitty cake by Publix {florida grocery store}.

By her 6th birthday, I was partied out, but she wanted a party. I sent an evite like the rest of the parents. By this stage, custom party invitations are out and rarely seen. Publix birthday cakes are great. Boys have boys only parties, the girls do the same inviting only their closest friends. Destination parties rock for now!

However, I have to say that I see a band in my future, in my backyard. And a big screen. With a video of photos I selected. And tables, and couches, white linens. Maybe a white party, maybe a black and white party. "Sweet 16"..........I'll be ready when you get here!