Thursday, April 28, 2011

Party Pooper

I've heard people say "Congratulations on surviving the first year as parents" but what I didn't know is that they were actually congratulating them on surviving the intense drama that surrounds orchestrating a first birthday party.

This week Map Guy and I wrote a list of people we would like to invite to Tricky's first birthday... there are 50 adults on the list. 50! I've never had a birthday party with 50 people so you can sure as shit bet that Tricky isn't having that many at a party he won't even know is happening let alone remember.

You're wondering how on earth it can be 50, aren't you? Well it's my bloody Mothers' Group's fault. Those of you who lament how cliquey and bitchy your group was, well it just might have been a blessing in disguise. I've got a group of gals that are awesome and are now actually my friends. Damn them for being so nice!

My other problem is I have the world's tiniest house; if we all stood crammed in shoulder to shoulder, it could possibly fit 20 malnourished individuals... you know, like the ones on billboards. Whilst I'm thankful none of my friends are as emaciated as Keira Knightly, it does mean I will have to find a venue for this frickin party, even with the guest list halved.


So now I'm wondering do I just go to a local park with BBQs and just hope that the bone-dry Perth winter continues? What is the protocol if rains on the morning of the party? Will everyone expect to come to my place? Or can I get away with pointing to the trees and suggesting everyone huddle under them?

All I want is a small gathering of friends, some nice finger food and to be able to take Tricky's photo while he smooshes cake all over his face. No petting zoo. No bouncy castle. No bloody fairies or clowns (unless it's Lily Petal or Lilly Pilly, of course!) and definitely not 50 people. Is that too much to ask?

I will accomplish it - if only so I can tick it off my Thirty before 30 list (which I kinda forgot about - oops).

How did you handle the first birthday? Is it rude to just go on a holiday instead?

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31 comments:

  1. try a local community center, i know someone that had her daughters birthday at the Noranda communtity center and it didnt cost that much to hire for the day. (good thing, as they had invited the whole class) it was a fully fenced in playground and a really large indoor area with a kitchen, all you had to do was bring food.

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  2. I hear ya Sista!!!
    My baby boy turns one TOMORROW! Have I organised anything? No. I was thinking morning tea at local botanical gardens but alas - what if it rains? I cannot accommodate more than a handful at my place and that would involve me doing housework. Pfft not happening.
    I was never this disorganised for Miss 3's first birthday! Hers was at our house - I even handed out invites. Unfortunately this year the Wedding has taken precedence.
    Oh crap - I'm gunna stop commenting and blog this shit!
    Will do a linkydo to you ;)

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  3. invite the necessary relatives and just have a small party with cake for the sake of the photos. that is all! For your mothers group I suggest you all get together and have a joint birthday celebration for all of your kids as they probably are all turning one this year. That's what I did and as you know, I am totally awesome so you should do what I did to be as awesome as me.

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  4. We headed to a nearby park and prayed for no rain. We gave the birthday boy a trike and asked all the older kids to bring along their bikes and scooter as well as the park hard a great bike track. We arrived early to snare the one and only cabana and it was pretty much smooth sailing from there. The back-up plan was to have it at our place and I’m happy to say we didn’t need to activate Plan B. By the time you invite a few little friends and cousins and grandparents it can start getting out of control pretty quick!

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  5. We literally do a BBQ in the park for ALL our parties. We live a block away, there is cover from possible rain, kids play equipment and plenty of space. In the event of absolute downpour we have a tarp that can be erected over our uncovered back verandah and big backyard. Our house is only 2.5 bedrooms with 5 inhabitants so no way would even the smallest inside party be manageable. If it's really terrible weather do you have an family or REALLY good friends with an undercover entertainment area? Otherwise the local scout hall/community hall would be my next choice.

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  6. Seagull's birthday is on 31 Dec, so I figured that no one would be around for it, being NYE and all. The morning of his birthday, we had a couple of friends ask if they and their families could come over to give Seagull a birthday present and wish him a happy birthday. I whipped up a batch of cupcakes before they came over and we had a small impromptu party.

    Wombat's birthday is at the end of October, so I don't think I'm going to be able to dodge out of it this time. We'll probably just have the same friends that were at Seagull's birthday over and have a BBQ or something.

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  7. Meh. Keep it cheap and simple. BYO alcomohol. First year survival.... I mean, party, is for the parents. Not the baby. Baby gets to have cake and eat it too. That's plenty for the likes of him! ;P Go the park. Go the trees option if it looks like you've broken Perth's drought by planning it outdoors. Trust me, don't overdo it! Or you will get into the habit of constantly comparing the previous year's party and will bust a boiler trying to outdo yourself and what you did "last year".

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  8. Pretty much every mum in my (two, awesome) mothers groups did the 50+ party invites. Pretty much every one of them regretted it and said they would never do that again. Well at least not for a first b'day. I made the list (like you), then realised how much hard work that was going to be and how lazy I am about stuff like that, invited the grandparents and my sister, everyone brought heaps of beer and wine and we had a fantastic afternoon/evening. And got the required birthday party/cake eating photos.

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  9. I so hear you!! We felt after such a big year, we would have Alex's party as more of a thank you to all the wonderful people (yourself included) who have helped us make it through!! So the champagne is chilled in preparation! You will be in shock as to how many people will be there on Sunday, but believe me this will be the only big party he has til he turns 18! As for the weather, we hired a pergola in Kings Park just in case, thankfully the forecast is a clear 24 degrees. If you decide to keep Tricky's party as a small family affair no one will think any different. At the end of the day, the bubs have no idea what all the fuss is about! xo

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  10. Yey for awesome Mum's group friends!
    Our Mum's group was/is a fabulous bunch and we all discussed this very issue. It was decided to pick a date and have a "1st B'day" for all of the kids at our usual venue. We did names out of a hat for presents, and everyone brought nibbles and one of the smart baking types made a scrumptious cake. The kids had a ball, most of the Dad's made it to this get together and we didn't all have to try and fit an extra 12 guests at each 1st B'day party.
    Good luck with what ever you decide to do. :-)

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  11. We haven't done 1st birthdays. Or 2nd.. or 3rd. You get the idea, *sigh*.
    I don't think it's rude to go on holidays - if that's what you want to do then that's what you should do.

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  12. We did first birthdays for my kids, but that's it since then. Bluey's first birthday we had a guest list of 80! Now only around 50 showed up, and to be fair with my mother being one of five kids, i do come from a rather large family that you can't really say no to. We just did a backyard barbie at my parents place as it was the place most people knew.
    By the time Greenie joined the family our family had gotten smaller with some family rifts amongst my mothers siblings, family moving away (like to Perth, wtf?), and an estrangement from Mr Black's family made Greenies little picnic in the park party quite small with only 15 of us attending (we invited more, many just didn't show up on the day). It rained at Greenies March party, we just made sure there was undercover area's and kept the party short. It didn't rain for Bluey's June party. Funny huh?
    I say you do what you feel is best for you 3 as a family. Thing is Tricky might not like all the attention (maybe he will be like Bluey and lap it up in all his diva-ness?), but then having lots of people might make the party sort of run itself? I say go with the park, it helps entertain those with toddlers or older kids (or those of us adults who just love a swing and a slippery dip!). If it rains, well it's a great excuse to keep the party short!

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  13. That's a great idea having just one party - I'm thinking of just hosting the mothers' group that day and providing afternoon tea, then having family around the next night for some drinkies!!!

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  14. Tricks gets a bit overwhelmed with lots of people - just sits there and watches them, but if he's one of only a few bubs he'll be on the go playing non stop. Funny little temperament he's got - if I did invite everyone I think he'd cry the whole time... a different type of diva!

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  15. I'm not planning on 2nd or 3rd birthday parties. This one, then maybe when he's at school.

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  16. Absolutely, Kath! I think this is such a great opportunity for you guys to do a little bit of celebrating - it is a massive milestone for Alex and I'm so happy to be able to share it with you! I think I would invite everyone I'd ever met if I was in your situation!!! xxx

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  17. I have culled so many off my list - I'm down to 20 of our close mates and it's going to be BYO and BBQ I think!!!

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  18. That's a great idea about the trikes. Most of Tricky's "friends" aren't very mobile yet, but I'll put that idea in the vault for the future!! I'm putting a finishing time on the invite, but even without it I know the bubs have to go home for their sleeps :)

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  19. You are amazingly awesome, Toushka, I will copy you now in everything you do... my next child will be called either Millar or Xanthe :)

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  20. Will head over to read it, Casey!!! Happy birthday to your little guy xxx

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  21. Forgot about the community centre - we even have our mothers' group there sometimes! I'm so clever, aren't I?!

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  22. They are hard.

    I actually blogged about the same thing today!

    We ended up with about 35 adults which was a good number, and just six kids.

    T had fun!

    Good Luck!

    xx

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  23. I don't do parties. My kids were so deprived.

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  24. I only did close family over for cake and coffee for my kids first birthday's. My sons first actual party was when he turned five we had it at a play centre. Hope it all works out well for you!

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  25. Perhaps I'll be helping out the state if I do plan an outdoor one, because it will guarantee rain :P It rained on my wedding day, didn't bother me - we got married in winter, so you kinda gotta expect some rain :)

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  26. Thanks for the linky love Jess, love the post x

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  27. This will likely be the first and last one he gets!

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  28. Brilliant - you don't have to clean up at a Play Centre!

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  29. Do you or any of your friends go to Play Group. We had our son's 1st birthday there, it was great, the kids play on the equipment and you don't have to worry about them, just sit back and have a few drinks!...You do have to clean up though.

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  30. We did a huge first birthday for Amy and I made myself insane and swore never again. It is bad that I can't remember Isaac's first birthday at all?

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  31. Oh yes, the all important 1st b'day party... We had quite the crowd as well, and were in the same "small unit" living conundrum then. Thankfully the weather Gods played nice and the sun shone brilliantly but it didnt stop me from stressing for the two weeks leading up to it, as well as sending the husband out at 7.30am to "bags" the best shelter in the park... And I also somehow managed to spend $120 on a freakin cake. Will NEVER do that again...

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