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Breaking up the house party

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Fairly Odd Mother

Frantically waving my magic wand to make wishes come true.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Breaking up the house party


At last count, I've planned/hosted/cleaned up over 24 kids' birthday parties in my home (that number isn't exact, but let's go with it, ok?).

I've thrown fairy parties, pirate parties, outer space parties. There have been mock sleepovers, luaus and first birthday parties where the theme is only "Red things". I have had Candy Land, LEGO/Star Wars, Alice in Wonderland and Dora-licensed character thingymabobs. All at home.

Now, D, my littlest, is staring down the days until he turns seven (in three weeks! ack!) and I thought maybe we'd have a camping party (like this one, but as if hillbillies threw it because there is no way I'm sewing that tent or painting wooden signs or even ordering expensive cookies from NYC)

Not-so-little D thought about it, shook his head and said, "no".

Oh-kay what would you prefer?

"A math and chess party." (here is where I realize I have not explained to my readers that my cute blond-haired boy has morphed into a kid who considers his math/chess class to be the pinnacle of fun) (insert homeschooling joke here).

But, you know, I can roll. . .a math/chess party may be hard, but it could be fun! Division cookies! Subtraction relays! A Pawn Pinata! I could almost see it!

And then he said the words, "And I want it at Frenzy's" which is some indoor padded play space in which you throw children and let them bounce and flop until they are a sweaty mess, while the adults presumably sit calmly watching coffee and texting.

Oh, and because all play spaces need to position themselves as being enriching and educational in some way, this place has a mechanical bull. Yes.

Photobucket

yeehaw, I can handle the bull, mama!

I smiled and thought, "eh. . .those places are always a million bucks, make you eat their crappy cake---I like cake WAY too much---and are so far away". And then I checked the website.

Under $200 for a party where you can bring the cake and do the invitations (oh, and it does NOT include use of the mechanical bull---the more expensive party does, but I consider this a downside of spending more) (my kids can learn how to ride a mechanical bull when they are drunk and 24 like normal people). AND, this place is right down the street.

This may put a screeching halt to my home-party streak.

And I wonder if there is a way to work in math relays while the kids run around the room.



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8 Comments:

Blogger Suburban Correspondent said...

I swear, those home parties are not that inexpensive - I end up spending 75 dollars, even using a homemade cake and not having a special theme. I say go for the Frenzy option!

7:41 AM  
Blogger Mrs. Q. said...

I hear ya-- I still love house parties and never did the packaged party until I had my little guy's at the Y's gymnastics center. It was a blast. Coming home to a clean house was worth every penny.

(As far as the theme, your nephew would be jazzed. I woke up to him inviting me to a "math club" with addition games on graph paper. Who are these people?)

7:52 AM  
Blogger AnnetteK said...

I swore I was never doing a home party again after the last one. Seven 8-year old boys can really trash a house in three hours! It really wasn't all that cheap either. I think that Frenzy's sounds pretty darn good. :)

7:58 AM  
Blogger Fairly Odd Mother said...

Oh, SC, yeah, my house parties are expensive---at least $200 if not more---but a LOT of places near here want $300-$400 for a party, and that is just too much for us.

8:03 AM  
Blogger Jessica said...

Do you want to rent my mom? You know she could even rock the math/chess party--dude, you know she could!

Side note: at last check Benjamin's birthday choices this year were: "prehistoric man," "medieval times" and "pirates."

I'm leaning toward pirates...hopefully he'll lean w/ me.

10:50 AM  
Blogger tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

I love that he wants a math party at a play area. But I can totally throw a party for under $30 so $200 for a party makes me vomit a bit in my mouth...

9:20 PM  
Blogger Jessica {Team Rasler} said...

I love how he saw nothing at all odd about wanting a math & chess party at a bouncy place. I've done it both ways, and I think I prefer not having parties at all. How long do you think I can get away with that? ; )

10:06 PM  
Blogger SabrinaT said...

Sounds like fun! Maybe a human chess game like in HP.. Only, everyone gets out alive and intact..

I spent some time searching your blog for your fairy party the other day.. I should have just waiting a few days.. You reposted the link.. Thank you!

I am busy planning Piper's first birthday. I thought I had plenty of time, he actual b-day isn't until OCT 4 but the Navy decided Ian should deploy the end of Sept.. So, we moved it back.. She is my only girl and in proper only girl fashion my house will be dripping pink... Any ideas would be WONDERFUL...

Maybe just let him take a pic on the bull.. You know for posterity..

1:02 AM  

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