Birthday Woes....

Alternate Title : Screw You Pinterest!

There are many seasons in a year.  For our house, right after the Forth of July, begins birthday season.  When you have children with birthdays 26 calendar days apart, it's an interesting thing.  Now, grant it, there is a year between them, but, during birthday season we have one party, then 2 free weekends, and another one.

The first 5 years were cool.  We had cute family parties and each child had their own separate parties. Then after a few years we combined parties (seriously we invited the same people to each so why not).  Now... now we have reached school age. The age of "I want a party with my friends."  The age of eating crappy pizza, watching a very odd mouse play the air guitar while kids run around on a sugar high asking for MORE TOKENS!

This year, I said no. Let's do an old school backyard party. No frills, no crap, no $20 per kid price tag. Kids playing, playing silly games, and (again) ending in a proper sugar high. Cake made by me, lumpy, not perfect, but perfect for my Shark lover (or so I hope).

Thanks to Pinterest, my quest for a simple seems lame.

I now find myself debating whether a group of 7 year olds will be pissed if they are eating off of plain blue plates, versus a plate with a basic shark face on it? Will they be insulted? Will parents look at my plate choice and go "OMG- what a pathetic plate!" We have been to a few other kids parties, and you know, I could not tell you any plate that was used. Yes, I remember eating cake and getting my own sugar high, but wow- no clue what was on the plate.

Yet, I sit here.  Debating.... blue plate or shark?!  $2.99 for 8 plates or $2.99 for 24 plates?! The pit in my stomach grows.... The items in my "shopping cart" online wait....

Then, the menu.  Initially I was thinking cute Pinterest worthy finger foods, cute labels, etc.  I realize my time to get the cute done is dwindling and Connor would care less if he had special "shark water" labels on drinks.  Crap, the kid can barely even READ the word Shark.

So, yes, here I am sweating details that may be noticed by a couple of parents, but totally over looked by kids.  The kids that just want to play, eat some cake, and maybe wack a piñata. 

I vow, right now, that Connor's Shark party will be an old school 1980's party.  Minimal frill.  Pizza, cup cakes, chips, dip, maybe a watermelon Shark. However, being a Mom in the 2000's I will tell you I will do my best to avoid high fructose corn syrup and peanut products (hey, I know too many nut allergy kids).  No promises on red dye #40, it might  make an appearance.  And most likely the only organic thing will be the grass the kids play on.
 
The kids will play, they will have fun, and they will careless about a friggin plate.

Right now, I need to concern myself with more important problems.  You know, like what if it rains?!

Connor's First Shark Party 2013

CC kept eating the blueberry Shark eyes...

Preparing for an Elf Visit... (alternate title, How to Give a Reindeer a Sex Change)

We will be traveling over Thanksgiving this year.  It's our family, my Aunt, Uncle, my cousins, their significant other, and well, Mom was supposed to attend.  Due to health issues, she'll be staying back.  It is a huge disappointment for her and for me.  I was SO looking forward to this little family get away. Nana was planning on a sleep over with the kids and lots of fun.  So, let me just stop there, before I get all emotional and upset and delete this post like I have about 10 other ones. 

anyway

We are an Elf on the Shelf family.  If you have read past posts, or allowed me to flood your Facebook feed with our elf antics, you know this.  We have an original elf, give to the kids by Nana.  His name is Rocky.  Then, two years ago, a vintage pixie elf that was either my Great Aunt Norma's or my Gramma Elsie's came to our family.  Apparently I like to give inanimate objects gender re-assignment assistance, because he became a she.   She wears a Green felt suit with a red lace skirt, her name - Tinkerbelle.  Here they are:

This was after they gift wrapped the toilet

 



They get into all kinds of adventures while visiting, and they send the kids a book in January that documents all their adventures in our home, and if they remember, they send notes through the year to remind the kids to be on their best behavior. 

Instead of coming the day after Christmas, our elves come when St. Nick visits the house on December 6th.  Sometimes they show up on Dec. 1st.  They have a pretty open schedule, so it's up to them.

Now that the Elf on the Shelf has raised the bar and added a goofy looking reindeer to their story.  He/She is not that goofy, but not up our alley.  So, I decided to find our own reindeers for snuggling at night time on vacation.  I am totally asking our hotel to help me surprise the kids with their new PJ's and stuffed animal surprise.  Here's hoping that works.

A friend, showed me these SUPER cute Reindeers by Jelly Cat.  After studying them, I decided I could make one a boy and one a girl reindeer.  A boy is easy, tie a bow around his neck, instant bow tie.  But, a girl... that required some thought.  I looked around the house, and found some white and red fabric, green ribbon, lace, red ribbon, and some snowflake clips.  I did NOT want to sew and my heat seal tape is MIA.  This left me with the glue gun.  About an hour later (and a couple of burns to my fingers due to the stupid glue gun), I was done.  Now, she's not perfect, but I think her new owner will love her.

What do you think???

So, yes, this fluff is my first blog post in a LONG time.  I hope to get back to oversharing, things have just been a little nutty lately!!!!