Saturday, September 12, 2009

Better Late Than Never.....

Over a month ago, Anna Grace turned the ripe old age of six. Yep, one more than five but one less than seven. Problem was she turned six just as school started.

Do you know how hard it is to plan a party when you don’t know your new classmates, mom is struggling to start a new year in a new position, Dad is out of town, and life is nutso?

Well, let me tell you….it is downright impossible to do that. Therefore, I told her we’d do a party near the end of August.

School continued to interfere and the end of August came and went. Bad mommy.

I finally realized the error of my ways and scheduled a party for her at the local bowling alley.

Yes, I was copping out of doing it at my house. I’m chicken. But this was also her first “real party” with friends.

You see, I have deprived my girls and have never had a “friend” party. Previous parties have just been family and our super duper old neighbors. That’s it.

I know. I’m a sorry mom. My big kids keep reminding me of that. On a regular basis.

Anyhow, the party was planned and kids invited. It was on the calendar, I knew it was coming up, but I forgot to order a cake. Yep, a major mistake. Thankfully, Kroger can throw together a cake in a pretty quick manner. Whew.

Birthday party day arrives. Katie is picked up from the airport (from school via the Atlanta subway system), cake retrieved, bows put in, and off we go.

Glow in the dark bowling. How cool!



But do you know how hard it is to run crowd control on ten kids in a bowling alley? With the lights off? Holey Moley.

Great fun was had by all. Bowling, pizza, cake, and video games. How much better can life get?







Friends, friends, and more friends……






and a surprise visit from The Boyfriend. I had told Anna Grace that Catlan couldn’t make it today. But he showed up at the last minute…..plans changed. She went running across the room and leaped into his arms.



Party time done, presents opened, The College Kid driven back to the airport to catch the train to school, and mom collapsed.

I think I’m too old to have little kids.

Nah, I’m too old to have little kid birthday parties.

Do you think they’ll notice if we skip all parties until they are 16?

6 comments:

Carrie said...

no once they have a big one with friends they want it every year! looks like a ton of fun!

Carey-Life in the Carpool Lane said...

Looks like a great party! I've never seen glow in the dark bowling before...bet it was a big challenge keeping tabs on the kiddos!

Bet you are glad it's over!

NeuroMama said...

What a fun party and the birthday girl looks absolutely thrilled. So, as a former kindergarten teacher, do you think a birthday party with friends from school is okay for that age? Sunnee wants to have a princess party next month, for only the girls. But, I feel like she doesn't even know most of their names at this point!

Faith, Hope, and Love said...

Anna Grace looks SO happy!! That's a petty awesome cake for last minute. It IS a lot of work but its so nice to leave the mess behind...come home and collapse. :)

You are a birthday party hostess survivor!!!

Have a great day!
Robin

Jboo said...

What a great party! That bowling looked so cool. And so glad her boyfriend showed! :)

Janet

Laurel said...

We don't do the big birthday parties with all of the friends. We used to take the whole family out to dinner to celebrate birthdays, but can't afford that any longer (as the family has grown and the income has been cut).

However, this year we came up with a new plan, that has been really fun. Each of the kids gets to invite one special friend, and they get to choose an activity to do with that one friend and mom and dad. Then we take the birthday child and their friend out to dinner (usually Red Robin). Our boys, by the way, all chose bowling this year ... something they had never done before. So, we are enjoying this new birthday tradition.

Laurel
mama of 13