Don't hate on me, but I have always thought elaborate parties for any child under kindergarten age, no matter how loving the intentions, are really just a competition between mothers. Both of our children were born in January, so having a party at home was limited. The kids couldn't go outside so mostly we did parties at ice or rolling skating rinks, bowling alleys and swimming at the Y. The whole idea for us was keeping the kids entertained for a couple of hours with the focus on the birthday child. The biggest stress for us, and it was plenty, was keeping each kid accounted for. Thankfully we never lost anybody.
I think the "birthday" theme of the triple birthday parties has already made a name for itself throughout the years, but maybe altering it would lift them to a whole different level? Whatever you'll decide, I'm certain next year's edtiton will be unforgettable.
I can't imagine the time and cost, this mother/father spent to indulge a 4 year old in their quest for the "perfect" safari birthday party. What kind of birthday party will this child get at age 5, or 10, or 15?
Do your daughters not each get to pick their own special birthday cake? I think that is work and theme enough, especially because you do the triple every year. Yes, it's fun to be invited to these over-the-top kid birthdays, but I agree with several that it's a competition between adults for the most part. Balloons, presents, cake, and special guests are the important things, right? Your triple party sounds way better than show-offy professionally produced theme shows to me. Oh, and one of my best friends is terrified of frogs...
I seriously thought your family pigs were going to be used to try to save the day! Madness would ensue, of course. But it would also be excellent newsletter material.
I'm all for having birthday-party as the theme. We used to do that with slite variations depending of the age. The early age was small parties at home, when they started school and we wanted to invite the whole class we had them at our church. We had a lot of different games and ended with a "baking" competion. Three teams got to assembel one cake each and give the cake a name. Then we judged in three categories: the fanciest, the most creativ, the colest name (the goal was that all teams could win). The prize was a bag of candy and to eat the cakes.
As they grew up we had the parties at various locations; McDonald's, a bowling alley, the bathhouse etc
When they reached 11-12 years the standard was a "movieparty", they took a few close friends to the movies, we payed for the tickets and some snacks and that was it.
Instagram and Pinterest are the cause of these insane parties. My daughter has done that for our grandson for his first three birthdays. I’m curious how it will go when baby sister arrives in a few weeks. It’s a lot of work and it seems so over the top to me. We did a few themed events but most birthdays were low key and not every year was a party. The oldest is in May and is stuck being in the midst of Kentucky Derby events and often close to Mother’s Day so it was hard to get parties coordinated. The other two are in November, one at the beginning and the other at the end so the youngest always has to contend with being around or on Thanksgiving which made parties a challenge. We tried to make it where they had parties for big birthdays (10, 13, 16, 18) but that didn’t always work with their other parents. Elaborate birthday parties are too much work and I don’t think they’re worth it until they are older and definitely not necessary every single year. Your low key three in one is much better! And of course Waffle had to be different.
Don't hate on me, but I have always thought elaborate parties for any child under kindergarten age, no matter how loving the intentions, are really just a competition between mothers. Both of our children were born in January, so having a party at home was limited. The kids couldn't go outside so mostly we did parties at ice or rolling skating rinks, bowling alleys and swimming at the Y. The whole idea for us was keeping the kids entertained for a couple of hours with the focus on the birthday child. The biggest stress for us, and it was plenty, was keeping each kid accounted for. Thankfully we never lost anybody.
Those are all amazing parties and easily on par with an animal show at home. As a bonus, you don't have to clean.
I think the "birthday" theme of the triple birthday parties has already made a name for itself throughout the years, but maybe altering it would lift them to a whole different level? Whatever you'll decide, I'm certain next year's edtiton will be unforgettable.
Our actual theme is chaos. We do it quite well.
I can't imagine the time and cost, this mother/father spent to indulge a 4 year old in their quest for the "perfect" safari birthday party. What kind of birthday party will this child get at age 5, or 10, or 15?
I assume one party will involve an actual trip to the moon.
I too failed at birthdays. I’ve always thought that themed parties were more for the parents than the kids, LOL
True. Probably why I'm so bad at them.
I hope Coworker Mom got her money back from the guy who flaked out on her party.
She definitely did. She is not the kind to take that sitting down.
Did you say the owl was in the cooler as well?
The owl and skunk were actually in their own pet carriers. Everybody else was in the cooler.
This sounds like a great time for adults too. Just add in some adult liquid refreshments and you really have a party. =)
Liquid refreshments make all parties better.
Do your daughters not each get to pick their own special birthday cake? I think that is work and theme enough, especially because you do the triple every year. Yes, it's fun to be invited to these over-the-top kid birthdays, but I agree with several that it's a competition between adults for the most part. Balloons, presents, cake, and special guests are the important things, right? Your triple party sounds way better than show-offy professionally produced theme shows to me. Oh, and one of my best friends is terrified of frogs...
I seriously thought your family pigs were going to be used to try to save the day! Madness would ensue, of course. But it would also be excellent newsletter material.
I pondered that, but the panic pooping would have ruined the party and multiple friendships.
I’m cringing, just thinking about it
I'm all for having birthday-party as the theme. We used to do that with slite variations depending of the age. The early age was small parties at home, when they started school and we wanted to invite the whole class we had them at our church. We had a lot of different games and ended with a "baking" competion. Three teams got to assembel one cake each and give the cake a name. Then we judged in three categories: the fanciest, the most creativ, the colest name (the goal was that all teams could win). The prize was a bag of candy and to eat the cakes.
As they grew up we had the parties at various locations; McDonald's, a bowling alley, the bathhouse etc
When they reached 11-12 years the standard was a "movieparty", they took a few close friends to the movies, we payed for the tickets and some snacks and that was it.
Instagram and Pinterest are the cause of these insane parties. My daughter has done that for our grandson for his first three birthdays. I’m curious how it will go when baby sister arrives in a few weeks. It’s a lot of work and it seems so over the top to me. We did a few themed events but most birthdays were low key and not every year was a party. The oldest is in May and is stuck being in the midst of Kentucky Derby events and often close to Mother’s Day so it was hard to get parties coordinated. The other two are in November, one at the beginning and the other at the end so the youngest always has to contend with being around or on Thanksgiving which made parties a challenge. We tried to make it where they had parties for big birthdays (10, 13, 16, 18) but that didn’t always work with their other parents. Elaborate birthday parties are too much work and I don’t think they’re worth it until they are older and definitely not necessary every single year. Your low key three in one is much better! And of course Waffle had to be different.
Eating someplace other than your own home is always an excellent theme.