When I was little I had a birthday party every year for as long as I can
remember. Some were big and elaborate, others were just a cake with candles and
we'd have some family over. A fuss was always made and I vowed that that would
be my children's reality for as long as I could do it and as long as they are interested.
But it seems that I'm the only mommy doing it anymore, 15 birthdays in. My eldest son is 9 years old and my baby will be turning 7 in two weeks time. Where most parents had a little something for the first birthday, we had a house full of people; friends, neighbours, family, work colleagues, hospital staff (!)... It was insane! We had reason to celebrate because this little blighter decided 9 April was not a good date to take his first breath: 16 January was more appealing. Patience is not his virtue. And when the second one came along we couldn't not give him the same, even though he arrived when he was scheduled to. It just wouldn't be fair.
All their birthdays had some or other theme, as is the norm. We chose before they had a voice and now they start planning their themes for the next year the night of their birthday party while we're tidying up. We've had all but 3 birthday parties at home. One was in Cape Town because my mom insisted, the other was at a venue because we had some issues at home, I can't remember what it was, plumbing or something... The other we had at Spur because my eldest decided that he wanted to have at least one birthday party there, like everyone else. It was fantastic because I didn't have to stress about anything! But because I love throwing these shindigs, I don't think I'll opt for or encourage that again.
We've gone from going the whole hog with matchy-matchy themed decor, plates, cups, serviettes, etc. to cutting right down to what the kids actually pay attention to, which is the birthday cake, rubbish luxuries and a party pack. We often got a water slide for the January birthday because it's always hot and a jumping castle for the August birthday, but it seems they're outgrowing the jumping castle because they haven't asked for it in a while. As of last year we also had interactive games in which all the kids participate and can win prizes. I've realised that the decor and such details is only really to impress the other moms and anyone who knows me knows that I don't play that game.
This year my baby chose dinosaurs as the theme. He's had a keen interest in the subject for years now (relative to his age it's been a while) and knows the names of more dinosaurs than I knew existed. He can even tell you what they look like, what they eat and what their natural enemies were. I'm sure if he had chosen sand as a theme I'd find a way to make it exciting, so needless to say dinosaurs had me going!
We brainstormed the birthday cake first. This is always a highlight for me as I get to be creative and do something not seen/done before, amongst our circle of friends, at least. I googled* and YouTubed* (*legit words according the my iPad that I'm typing this on!). There were mostly boring dino cakes that we came across but one awesome, albeit OTT birthday cake project.
This is my people! I get them!
What we decided on was a smoking volcano to set the scene. I'd love to do an actual erupting volcano, but without toxic chemicals that would inevitably ruin the cake or some serious mechanical engineering, it's not going to happen. I'll do a separate post on that process as it happens.
Next, having settled on the cake I got onto the invitations. I sent out a save-the-date notification, just a plain old PDF to secure the date in people's diaries.
But it seems that I'm the only mommy doing it anymore, 15 birthdays in. My eldest son is 9 years old and my baby will be turning 7 in two weeks time. Where most parents had a little something for the first birthday, we had a house full of people; friends, neighbours, family, work colleagues, hospital staff (!)... It was insane! We had reason to celebrate because this little blighter decided 9 April was not a good date to take his first breath: 16 January was more appealing. Patience is not his virtue. And when the second one came along we couldn't not give him the same, even though he arrived when he was scheduled to. It just wouldn't be fair.
All their birthdays had some or other theme, as is the norm. We chose before they had a voice and now they start planning their themes for the next year the night of their birthday party while we're tidying up. We've had all but 3 birthday parties at home. One was in Cape Town because my mom insisted, the other was at a venue because we had some issues at home, I can't remember what it was, plumbing or something... The other we had at Spur because my eldest decided that he wanted to have at least one birthday party there, like everyone else. It was fantastic because I didn't have to stress about anything! But because I love throwing these shindigs, I don't think I'll opt for or encourage that again.
We've gone from going the whole hog with matchy-matchy themed decor, plates, cups, serviettes, etc. to cutting right down to what the kids actually pay attention to, which is the birthday cake, rubbish luxuries and a party pack. We often got a water slide for the January birthday because it's always hot and a jumping castle for the August birthday, but it seems they're outgrowing the jumping castle because they haven't asked for it in a while. As of last year we also had interactive games in which all the kids participate and can win prizes. I've realised that the decor and such details is only really to impress the other moms and anyone who knows me knows that I don't play that game.
This year my baby chose dinosaurs as the theme. He's had a keen interest in the subject for years now (relative to his age it's been a while) and knows the names of more dinosaurs than I knew existed. He can even tell you what they look like, what they eat and what their natural enemies were. I'm sure if he had chosen sand as a theme I'd find a way to make it exciting, so needless to say dinosaurs had me going!
We brainstormed the birthday cake first. This is always a highlight for me as I get to be creative and do something not seen/done before, amongst our circle of friends, at least. I googled* and YouTubed* (*legit words according the my iPad that I'm typing this on!). There were mostly boring dino cakes that we came across but one awesome, albeit OTT birthday cake project.
This is my people! I get them!
What we decided on was a smoking volcano to set the scene. I'd love to do an actual erupting volcano, but without toxic chemicals that would inevitably ruin the cake or some serious mechanical engineering, it's not going to happen. I'll do a separate post on that process as it happens.
Next, having settled on the cake I got onto the invitations. I sent out a save-the-date notification, just a plain old PDF to secure the date in people's diaries.
Good thing I did this too because we had another domestic
issue of the sewer leaking in the back yard so the venue had to change from
home to somewhere else at short notice. My dear friend came to the rescue with their
estate's clubhouse so good thing the invitations didn't go out yet. Last night
I worked on said invitation and this is what I came up with.
Disclaimer: I don't know how to upload a PPS, so I had to upload the slides to YouTube to stick it here. The actual PPS is more impressive.
The birthday boy and his brother were muchos impressed! I left out the last two slides with venue and
contact details for obvious reasons. I couldn't get royalty-free dinosaur roar
wav clips so I had to elicit the help of the experts (hubby and the kids) with
a state-of-the-art cell phone recording. If Spielberg needs sound effects for
his next multi-billion dollar blockbuster, you know where to find me, refer
away.
Now all that's left to do is to think of the food that I need to serve and the activities for the kids. I'm not too interested in entertaining the adults. We don't insist on parents being there but it's what we prefer and don't encourage drop-and-go stories. I will not drop my kids at a party and leave. If I can't be there with them, then they will not go. And I don't expect to be entertained, I'll happily sit in a corner and bring my own food if I have to as long as I can see my kids. Strangely, as much as we see it happening at parties that we attend, all of the people we invite, 95% of whom are friends, generally feel comfortable enough to stay at the party as well. We also don't serve alcohol or invite people to bring their own because I feel the parents should take responsibility for their own children.
Food-wise I have decided to make eats in advance and not braai or make a potjie, especially if my husband has to do it. I don't have a problem hiring people to braai, because as social as it is standing around a fire (killer as it is in January!) I'd rather we focus on entertaining the children. Hubby has completely embraced the idea and enjoys being able to relax and socialise. He still suggests from time to time that we braai, but sort of makes up his own mind that it's too labour intensive and cans the idea on his own.
Other to-dos... Birthday school cupcakes, music, photographer to document all my hard work and creativity (I'm incredibly vain that way) and party packs.
More posts on the party to follow.
Now all that's left to do is to think of the food that I need to serve and the activities for the kids. I'm not too interested in entertaining the adults. We don't insist on parents being there but it's what we prefer and don't encourage drop-and-go stories. I will not drop my kids at a party and leave. If I can't be there with them, then they will not go. And I don't expect to be entertained, I'll happily sit in a corner and bring my own food if I have to as long as I can see my kids. Strangely, as much as we see it happening at parties that we attend, all of the people we invite, 95% of whom are friends, generally feel comfortable enough to stay at the party as well. We also don't serve alcohol or invite people to bring their own because I feel the parents should take responsibility for their own children.
Food-wise I have decided to make eats in advance and not braai or make a potjie, especially if my husband has to do it. I don't have a problem hiring people to braai, because as social as it is standing around a fire (killer as it is in January!) I'd rather we focus on entertaining the children. Hubby has completely embraced the idea and enjoys being able to relax and socialise. He still suggests from time to time that we braai, but sort of makes up his own mind that it's too labour intensive and cans the idea on his own.
Other to-dos... Birthday school cupcakes, music, photographer to document all my hard work and creativity (I'm incredibly vain that way) and party packs.
More posts on the party to follow.
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