OHMYGOD FIVE

If you've read any of my previous posts you know that I struggle with indulging my kids and allowing them to be indulged by others.  This next post is completely contrary to all of my previous statements.

I've been bitten by the Birthday Party Bug!  As soon as I had Drew I knew that I'd want to do a special birthday for her every year.  Then William came along.  Then Lauren.  I get to do 3 special birthday parties a year for the next 13 years (or whatever)!  Whoo hoo!  Special meaning... I'm not sure.  Fun, obviously.  Tons of friends, of course.  Memorable, that's it.  Memorable.  I think this may be the first year that the birthday party we have will be memorable.  Not because the others haven't been fun (even though they've all been at our house and they are always the same) but because this birthday she is turning OHMYGOD FIVE and I think she'll remember it.  

I think starting at age five it's time to do something five-ish.  You know, like big kid-ish but still 100% parent controlled.  And at this age the parents still need to attend.  I'm willing to do whatever but I don't want to be responsible for your kid.  Sorry.  That's why this year Chris and I decided to have her party for just her preschool friends (and a few close friends as well) and not the whole group of 40 we usually had at our house.  We'll have all family and friends invited for Lauren's first but for Drew's party this year I think it's time to make it more about her and her friends than us and our annual February reunion.  

Once I started looking into places to host her party I realized that you pretty much have to be a gajillionaire if you want to do it right.  It's insanity.  Then I remembered how much I love doing birthday parties and having everyone around and celebrating just her on that day and figured if I talked about party this and party that that Chris would get terribly annoyed and tell me to just take care of it.  "Do whatever, just stop talking about it." He's so predictable.  OKEEE, DOKEE!  That's just what I did.  So we are going here for Drew's birthday to celebrate that she is turning OHMYGOD FIVE.

The sledding hill!

See, we don't get snow where we live so this new attraction just miles from our house is AWESOME fun.

Drew and William sledding

They even let old ladies sled!

I hope the families we invite come and enjoy the day with us and their own kids.  Don't ever underestimate playing with your kids.  I hope that is what will make this day special.  I mean memorable.