Birthday Parties – A Celebration Amid the Messiness

This weekend was the big birthday party that I’ve been working on “planning.”  I use the term loosely since I didn’t do a whole lot but it was an adventure to say the least.  The Munchkin turned 1 last month and the Mr. turns 40 next week so we combined the parties and had an affair.  She had a pink sparkle cape and he had a “vintage dude” shirt.  We invited family and friends; had food, music, and just a really good time.  

I attempted to keep it low key because the Munchkin wouldn’t remember and the whole point of living with Babci is to save money so spending a ton of money on a party is counterintuitive to that goal.  I also am not a fan of huge, elaborate parties for children because anything you want to do for your kids that means you have shoulder that burden so why make yourself crazy?

I ended up ordering some food from a local grocery store as well as some chips, snacks and drinks just so the people are fed, plugged my cell phone into some speakers for some music, had a few things for the kids to do and otherwise it was just a time to have some fun!

Luckily the BFF and another friend became the “caterers” and took over the majority of work in the kitchen at the beginning of the party (after I arrived a little late and with tipped over cupcakes and the Mr. attempted to get the place up and running) so I actually got to enjoy myself and socialize.

However, if you were expecting a pinterest perfect party, this was not it!  In no particular order the pinterest “fails” of the party:

1. Not enough centerpieces (and they were just cheap paper ones from oriental trading)
2. Cake was only a sheet cake from the grocery store
3. There was no actual theme to the party – the favors were dinosaur duckies and temporary tattoos, the Munchkin was wearing a pink cape, and there was a “vintage dude” banner
4. The invitation was digital
5. There were no special treats
6. I was wearing jeans and sneakers
7. The Munchkin was wearing a “superhero loading” onesie
8. We didn’t really hang any decorations
9. We didn’t have organized games or activities to keep the kiddos or adults entertained
10. We didn’t have the attendees write cute letters to the Munchkin (although I kinda wish we had LOL)
11. Pictures were hung in no particular order
12. We didn’t decorate the high chair
13. I did nothing crafty other than use shutterfly to make a photobook
14. When we all started singing the Munchkin got upset
15. It was not “magical” in any sense of the word, nor did I attempt to make it so – this was a willful negligence on my part

There was nothing magical about it; the cupcakes got a little damaged on the car ride from the store to the party, and we ordered way too much food (I’ve got lunch for days) it was still a great time because it was made special by the people who shared it with us and the fact that I wasn’t a crazy momma who couldn’t enjoy herself.  My family is truly blessed by the others who are part of our lives both actually related and not.  While most of my friends don’t have kids they are really good at treating my Munchkin like their own and are wonderful people.  My cousins have kids around the Munchkin’s age so it’s nice to get together with them and while I asked for no gifts the Munchkin and the Mr. were recipients of kindness and generosity from the people in our lives.
While I may be a messy mom and definitely not a pinterest mom I’m a happy mom with a network of friends and family who can’t be replaced.