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| The Invitation |
Stuff to fit the restaurant theme
Dry-Erase markers $24
Menu Covers $26
Guest Checks $6
Goody Bags for School and YMCA and party guests
Doughnut sticker sheets $8
Doughnut sticker rolls $8
Sweet stampers $10
Party favor bags $8
Stuffed doughnuts $26
Target $89.67 for batteries, goody bag treats, coffee, creamer, kitty litter
Smart & Final $113.92 for goody bag treats, coffee cups, plates, tablecloth
Decorations
Balloons $16
Filling balloons $8
Michael's $25.25 for poster boards
Play food
Burgers (2) $24
Ice cream $13
Coffee station $27
Doughnut station $30
Real food
Pizza $23.97
Burgers $84.84
Doughnuts $46
Ice cream $59.98
Dry ice $50
Ice $13
Lowe's $61 for an extra table
It was all for $802. We had corporate logos featured, but I think Albert actually really liked it. He would say, "Wow, that's like what we have at home." When he saw the logos of real restaurants, he would say, "That's just like what you made, Mommy." I'm not big on "corporate," but I do know that kids like food that is easily recognizable. I brought the poster boards to CSUN and used the projector to trace an outline of the logo. Then I brought them home and painted in the colored parts of the logos. I got balloons that fit the theme to make it like the signs along the boulevard, especially like Ventura Blvd where there is a giant hand for a car wash or a giant donut for a sweet shoppe.
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| Real Coffee Bar |
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| Pretend Coffee Bar |
The kids started playing with the play food immediately. It was like they knew what to do inherently. There were 5 stations and about that many kids. The kids liked making coffee for the adults, and I think it was a novelty that the real food matched the play food. When your kid would take your order, you didn't know if they would bring you real food or pretend. The play money and cash register were also pretty fun. The kids played with everything and took turns like champs. I think there was enough overlap and familiarity among the kids that they were not weirded out by each other. Nobody was excessively shy. They rode their wheels up and down the alley, especially after eating ice cream and donuts.
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| Real Ice Cream Bar |
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| Pretend Ice Cream Bar |
We decided that the mini cones were such a hit that we could have had twice as many for the same price. It was the only thing that ran out. The mini cones from Baskin Robbins were nearly $2 each, while the cones from Trader Joe's were about $0.50 each. We could have created a stand to hold them upright ourselves out of cardboard, but that's how you learn. The dry ice was too much. We got 20 lbs. It took forever to melt even in direct sunlight.
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| Real Donut Bar |
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| Pretend Donut Bar |
Albert was having fun being a DJ and showing off his new CD player and dance moves. I did a good job of not cleaning too much and just letting the house be as it is to normalize the reality of parenthood. I noticed many of the kids we invited are only children. And I was surprised to learn that I'm older than the other moms by about 5 years. Mike is older by more than 10 years. So we are more settled and chill. I also let them know that Kathleen is my sponsor, so we're in the program. My sobriety journey has been as crucial as my PhD or my marathon training to shape my character. So it's okay to let people know about it. There was a moment when the kids wanted to play inside with Albert's trucks. And jump on the couch. I hope the other parents thought it was a worthwhile day and playdate.
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| Pizza Play Kitchen |
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| Pretend Burger Bar |
The three medium pizzas were good. People did eat almost all the cheese pizza. We had only 3 pieces left. The cheeseburgers were good, but expensive. We had only 4 leftover out of the 24 that we ordered. The kids ended up asking for milk, which we had. I set out 5 and there were only 2 left at the end of the party. We set out about 36 water bottles and there were about 18 leftover.
I think people appreciated the goody bags. I tried to have a mix of sweet and salty. Nothing chocolate. No nuts. And something non-food that isn't just garbage. It's challenging. Albert was really specific about what he wanted in there for his friends. He wanted pretzels or cheese balls. We got cheese bunnies instead. He wanted gummy bears, we got sour patch kids. He wanted ring pops. He wanted good candy, like starbursts. He is so generous. His after school teacher made him pass out the goody bags himself. I don't know about his classroom teacher, but he didn't have too much trouble giving all that stuff away. I know he really likes getting goody bags on other kids' birthdays.
- One https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2021/03/i-have-1-year-old.html
- Two https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2022/03/february-2022-thoughts.html
- Three https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2023/03/post-birthday-blues.html
- Four https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2024/03/pirate-life-4-me.html
After his birthday parties 2, 3, and 4 were like destination parties, I said last year that the next birthday party we would have would be at our house, which we did. I was tired of parties at public parks where it seemed like random kids would join, eat the food, and try to steal the presents. I had planned to give away the food menus with worksheets inside, but I forgot. It would have made more sense to go with the dry-erase markers in the goody bags. But it's okay.
Guest List
Kathleen
Christoph
Harvey
Carissa
Husband
Declan
Lee-Ann
Boyfriend
Heinrich
Frederick
Larry
Victoria
Sarah
Stephen
Samantha
Anthony
Mika
Lucas
Emma
Eli
Kayla
Mike
Albert
I tried limiting the guest list to just 5 kids, following the rule of thumb that you invite the number of kids that your child is in age. The reason is that more kids is more overwhelming and although I wanted to invite everyone in Fit4Mom and everyone in Albert's class, for a house party in our somewhat small house, that just wouldn't fit.
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