Comments on: Part 1: Fifth Birthday Preparation

By: skeeter

skeeter — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:45:25 +0000

I wouldn’t go with the sorry you didn’t get invited to the first party line… We used to have a school friend party and a family get together to make sure it wasn’t too crowded

By: Carrie

Carrie — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:22:07 +0000

I can’t wait to see pictures of the fort!!

By: Jessica G

Jessica G — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 03:07:02 +0000

My baby is turning 5 in a few weeks and I am thrilled that we get to have a summertime party. Summer parties can be so easy. We are doing the same thing we did last year. Our church has a bouncy-house (borrow) we fill up the kid-friendly little pools and pull out the sprinklers (easy) and give the kids bubbles as favors (cheap). The only thing we spend money on is renting a snow cone machine for the day ($50) which is completely worth it!

Now for my 2 year old – she is a February baby. I think cardboard forts may be in our future!

By: JenRae

JenRae — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 03:00:55 +0000

what is wrong with using a little elbow grease and imagination? geeze! I think the party sounds great!

I was totally against having a party at a party place, but my daughter’s birthday is in March, and our house is too small if it’s not nice out… so I caved. My other daughter’s birthday is in the summer though, so her party will be at a park, and I made kites for the kids to decorate and fly. can’t wait!

By: KGS

KGS — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:43:53 +0000

Please let us know what you decide to do about the second round party and how people react– I’m really curious! As someone who’s just navigated the morass of a sibling’s wedding and a large graduation party, I’m newly sensitized to the many ways people find to get offended about invitations/parties, so I’m really interested in how you handle this. Hopefully your daughter’s friends’ parents are saner than my more distant relatives… Anyway, I’m sure all the kids will have fun no matter what, and that is what this is *supposed* to be about, after all!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:19:24 +0000

Oh, one more thing on the “number of friends” thing. A good birthday party guildeline is one child per age they are turning plus one as the maximum,

So, you are inviting a good number for the first party. Heck, I would just say that the second set didn’t get cut, but they get to come to the second party! Wish I would get two parties for my birthday! Plus, all the things would have been tested out and so they are getting the best of the best! It’s really not a bad thing and, in the end, everyone on both days will have a blast and that’s all that really matters, right?

By: Teacher Jennifer

Teacher Jennifer — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:23:00 +0000

“We figure age 5 is where our daughter will begin remembering pivotol moments for the rest of her life. We’d prefer she remember her parents working hard together on something that is important to her.”

YES! Your effort in creating a meaningful party will build and shape her strengths, making a life-long impression. Good job, you two!

By: Bess

Bess — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:46:26 +0000

My inlaws did a party like that for my brother-in-law when he was a kid, and everyone is still talking about it today. So, I think it’s great. Hard work for a cheaper but more fun party makes for great memories. I wish I was as good. I’m doing the whole gym party thing.

By: Dallas

Dallas — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:59:22 +0000

My baby is 2, and we have only had “at home” birthday parties. The “themes” were things she loves, first year was rubber duckies, and second year was music. I don’t think you’re pampering at all (like, is pampering a BAD thing???)

As far as the after-party-party: Perhaps just let the parents know there wasn’t enough room, so “We’re stretching out the party. Just one day to celebrate isn’t enough. We’re partying in shifts”, and just have some cupcakes on hand for the playdates. I’d also have a happy birthday sing-a-long, with the birthday song included along with other kid songs.

Personally, *I* would not be offended by not being invited to the “real” party. Then again, I don’t get my panties in a bunch about that kind of thing… and folks that do… well… they would probably get their drawers bunched about most anything, and there’s no pleasing folks like that, IMO.

Y’all have fun!

By: KGS

KGS — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:54:53 +0000

I sympathize with the “too many guests, too small a house” problem– and that’s primarily with local family members, let alone friends! We’ve always had our daughter’s parties at a big park near our house, and thanked our lucky stars late January is nice where we live.

I suspect people (mostly parents) will not like being told they didn’t make the cut for the “real” party and are being offered a consolation prize. I’d either make the play date a *completely* unrelated event centered on the fort (with no mention of its previous function as birthday-zone), or do two complete parties.