The Party Aftermath
July 6th 2008 12:31
Yee haa! It’s the morning of Isaac’s Wild Wild West birthday party, and we’ve woken to the unmistakable sound of pouring rain. Further investigation reveals that the backyard looks like a swimming pool, dark clouds are NOT going away and the wind has blown my hand-made horse shaped piniata off the table and into the wet driveway, where it has disintegrated into a sticky ball.
It’s not a big surprise as I’ve been watching the weather forecast all week and have a “Plan B” which involves moving everything inside. No worries! First I’ll need a strengthening cup of tea. Or vodka. Dang Nabbit!!
At 12.30pm, with 16 adults and 8 kids crammed into our tiny 3 bed cottage, the party is in full swing. Kids are comparing cowboy outfits, ladies are sipping wine, men are enjoying home brew, canapés are being passed around and the birthday boy is sleeping soundly despite the noise.
We’re ignoring the muddy footprints underfoot and the fact that a bunch of kids crammed into a small area and loaded with sugar are really bloody LOUD! They’re all having a ball though, which is why they’re here. Isaac soon wakes and joins the melee with gusto, refusing to put on his cowboy outfit but settling for a shirt with a picture of an Indian on it, which is close enough.
Thankfully after a delicious lunch the rain has stopped and we’ve let the kids run wild in the soggy backyard. It’s far too wet for the treasure hunt and outdoor games, but a box of bubble blowers soon has the older kids orchestrating bubble chasing games that keep them all amused until it’s time to open the presents.
With a two-year-old’s attention span (equivalent to that of a goldfish), Ike does well to graciously open all of his presents, yelling an enthusiastic “WOW” when unwrapping Tonka trucks, Lightning McQueen toys, clothes, books…the presents seem never-ending. What a lucky boy.
The cake, a major and edible success as far as I’m concerned, was lovingly iced with a sheriff’s star and chocolate bullets at 11 o’clock last night. It’s eaten with just as much enthusiasm and yellow icing soon joins the tonne of grass and mud mashed into the floor.
I pause for a moment after refilling everyone’s wines, and reflect on the absolute bedlam that occurs when a large group of friends are within a very confined space enjoying a good party. It’s loud, it’s messy, it’s very entertaining, and although the house is getting trashed it’s not stressful at all. On the contrary, I’m quite relaxed knowing that I don’t have to chase Isaac all day to make sure he “doesn’t break anything” which is the norm when we visit others. In our house he can go for his life, as can everyone else. We’ll deal with the mess tomorrow.
I was right when I declared that the Wild Wild West birthday party was partly for me. I’ve loved organising it and love having the house filled with our family and friends. And most importantly I love the icing-smeared grin on my little man’s face as he celebrates turning two with a group of people he adores and who love him dearly in return. Happy Birthday Isaac. xxx
It’s not a big surprise as I’ve been watching the weather forecast all week and have a “Plan B” which involves moving everything inside. No worries! First I’ll need a strengthening cup of tea. Or vodka. Dang Nabbit!!
At 12.30pm, with 16 adults and 8 kids crammed into our tiny 3 bed cottage, the party is in full swing. Kids are comparing cowboy outfits, ladies are sipping wine, men are enjoying home brew, canapés are being passed around and the birthday boy is sleeping soundly despite the noise.
We’re ignoring the muddy footprints underfoot and the fact that a bunch of kids crammed into a small area and loaded with sugar are really bloody LOUD! They’re all having a ball though, which is why they’re here. Isaac soon wakes and joins the melee with gusto, refusing to put on his cowboy outfit but settling for a shirt with a picture of an Indian on it, which is close enough.
Thankfully after a delicious lunch the rain has stopped and we’ve let the kids run wild in the soggy backyard. It’s far too wet for the treasure hunt and outdoor games, but a box of bubble blowers soon has the older kids orchestrating bubble chasing games that keep them all amused until it’s time to open the presents.
With a two-year-old’s attention span (equivalent to that of a goldfish), Ike does well to graciously open all of his presents, yelling an enthusiastic “WOW” when unwrapping Tonka trucks, Lightning McQueen toys, clothes, books…the presents seem never-ending. What a lucky boy.
The cake, a major and edible success as far as I’m concerned, was lovingly iced with a sheriff’s star and chocolate bullets at 11 o’clock last night. It’s eaten with just as much enthusiasm and yellow icing soon joins the tonne of grass and mud mashed into the floor.
I pause for a moment after refilling everyone’s wines, and reflect on the absolute bedlam that occurs when a large group of friends are within a very confined space enjoying a good party. It’s loud, it’s messy, it’s very entertaining, and although the house is getting trashed it’s not stressful at all. On the contrary, I’m quite relaxed knowing that I don’t have to chase Isaac all day to make sure he “doesn’t break anything” which is the norm when we visit others. In our house he can go for his life, as can everyone else. We’ll deal with the mess tomorrow.
I was right when I declared that the Wild Wild West birthday party was partly for me. I’ve loved organising it and love having the house filled with our family and friends. And most importantly I love the icing-smeared grin on my little man’s face as he celebrates turning two with a group of people he adores and who love him dearly in return. Happy Birthday Isaac. xxx
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