biting off more than you can chew

Sadie and Delaney have birthdays in the same week, and since they like for Mee Mee to be able to come, we wind up doing a joint party for them.  They wanted to do a Webkinz party (somebody they know went to such a party where there were several different stations of games just like the games on Webkinz!), but as we discussed it more in depth I really couldn't see how that was going to happen on our kind of birthday party budget.  So then we decided to do a pizza cooking party like ONE of the games on Webkinz, which then led to let's go ahead and decorate our own cupcakes, too.  And of course, I wanted to try out the new jumbo cupcake pans out there . . . Then we were at the store buying stuff for the party and the kids asked if we were getting a pinata or not.  Oh yeah, I forgot.  Anyway, I knew we were in trouble the night before when my mind just could not map out how all of these events were going to come together in a nice-and-neat manner.  (Ryan was also going to grill chicken for the adults.)  I made four batches of cupcakes, pasta salad, marinated chicken, etc the day ahead.  Lucky for me, my mom & Don were here on Friday afternoon so I could run a few more errands, and by Friday night Ben had brought over dinner and I left them all at my house so I could do a final run to Costco and go get Ryan from the airport.

We all survived the party and I think the kids had fun, but I felt like a chicken running around with my head cut off the whole time! 

The girls opened their presents from Ryan and I and from Mee Mee and Don on Saturday morning.  Much joy was had in the land.

Let the games begin!  Pizza and cupcake making stations:

 

 

 

 

(artsy cupcake shot by Misty!)

 

 

 

The big boys decided to brave the weather to grill outside on the back porch, or "lend a hand" in the grilling, i.e., avoiding the mayhem going on INside the house.  Benny Boy had to use his blankie, though, it was too cold.

Singing the birthday song and turning 20+ kids loose with cupcakes in the living room.  Amazingly, there was no frosting in the carpet!  (50 lbs of sprinkles, yes.)

 

We moved outside to beat the pinata.  The day before, it had been 80 outside.  The day of the party, it was about 45 degrees with a very stiff north wind.  This is the joy of January birthday parties.  Luckily for everyone, my children are horrible about putting up their winter gear, so I have given up and just have a laundry basket in the closet where everyone can just dig out a sweatshirt or coat -- came in pretty handy when 20+ kids needed a jacket to go outside!  (Don't tell Noah that he was wearing MY jacket!)

 

I wish that we had gotten a better picture of the pinata before she met her demise.  Ben went to a real pinata place and got this huge "princess" (though I think she was actually a bride??).  The candy went in her hip/booty.  We all know that's where our candy ends up, right ladies?!

 

(Ava and Logan admiring the pinata bride the night before -- you can see that she is actually taller than they are!)

 

Opening presents . . .

 

Again, many thanks to all of the adults that helped kids make pizzas, made sure no one got maimed during the pinata time, took pictures for me, etc.  Love you!

Comments

[Amber]

looks like it was a great party! sorry we missed it out on it!

[Erin Wilkinson]

dumb question...did you have to cook the pizza's when they finished making them...or were they more like lunchable pizzas...and they just ate them when they were done?

[Jeannie]

That looks like a ton of fun!!! Congrats on surviving too!! :)