I wouldn't go as far as saying we've actively avoided throwing birthday parties, but we haven't had a really compelling reason to do it, either - until this year. This year, Brennan's actual birthday fell on a Saturday, 2 days before the start of kindergarten - and a bunch of his preschool buddies have had parties this year, so we could no longer deny the existence of such a thing. In fact, for months, he's been filling our ears with all the things he wanted at his party.
So we booked the party room at the Midtown Terrace Playground, i.e, the location of 50% of the birthday parties we've attended so far, chose "rocket ships" as our party theme (narrowly avoiding monster trucks), and spent several weeks pulling our hair out over how to invite everyone during the summer break, where to get cupcakes, building a spaceship out of cardboard boxes, etc.
We got there bright & early to set up, and I was very impressed how Lucie and the birthday boy played nicely by themselves on the playground so Mommy & Daddy could set out gallons of goldfish crackers and juice pouches. Daddy might have overdone it at Costco.
Ian & Huckle joined in the fun not long after:
Mr. Funnybone's magic show!
We managed to sell Brennan on the idea that bouncey houses were too noisy and the generator would make a bunch of stinky smoke that was bad for the Earth. Which may be true, but also his track record with entering bouncey houses at parties is spotty at best, so we were somewhat reluctant to rent one so he could sulk outside of it.
I think he bought it.
...AND, there was balloon twisting!
opening all the presents!
blew out his candles -
-and dove in, no forks needed.
Lucie really liked the birthday cake, too, and didn't mind one bit that the rich chocolatey frosting made her look like Pennsatucky.
