birthdays, i heart you.
Just to clarify, I mean my kid’s birthdays. And more specifically, her birthday PARTIES and the planning thereof.
If you know anything about me, you probably know that this borders on obsessive behavior.
Alright, fine.
Border-shmorder. I’m knee-deep in OBSESSED with birthday party planning. It’s no small coincidence that when Olivia turned TWO it rhymed with ZOO and when she turned THREE it rhymed with Under the SEA and FOUR? DINOSAUR, naturally.
And I of course planned accordingly.
Click to enlarge!
What happened with FIVE, you ask? Well, in an effort to not become (more of) “that mom” I decided to let her have her very own opinion on the matter. It may surprise you to learn that she did NOT go with my brilliant idea of FIVE and BEE HIVE.
Nope. She chose COWGIRL.
Have no fear! I always love a good challenge. Oh, I sure did work in “Sakes Alive, she’s turnin’ FIVE” into the theme. Boy howdy.
So when I saw that this week’s Monday Listicles was a BIRTHDAY theme? Hello, no need to ask me twice.
Let’s do this:
B is for BEING BORN but that’s kind of a given. Sort of hard to have a birthday without this little detail.
I is for ICE CREAM? Too expected. I is for IRRATIONAL which describes the amount of time I spend on party planning. Why do you think we only have one kid? I’d have to quit my day job to plan parties for multiples.
R is for the REAL REASON we celebrate such a joyous occasion. And by “real reason”, obviously I mean the cake.
T is for the TANTRUMS that inevitably ensue at our child’s birthday parties. But I’m usually able to make it to the bathroom and lock myself in before anyone sees me, not to worry.
H is for HAPPY, wouldn’t you think? Well, it sure is! But 5 minutes before guests start to arrive it’s also for “what the HELL was I thinking?”
D is for DADDY because without that guy? None of it would be possible. He’s my Party Planning Partner in Crime and has the patience of a saint.
A is for APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE for sending your kid home thinking that every party they go to will include a 26-page customized coloring book with their photo and name. I’m sorry, if you let your kid play with the kid who has the neurotic mother, you’ll have to deal with the consequences. It’s the collateral damage of play dates.
Y is for YES! We survived another YEAR! YAY! (see all the Y’s there?)
S is for SLEEP but ha ha ha, nice try sucka! S is for SUGAR. That’s what S is for.
! is for the excitement!!!! of planning the next one. Better get started, it’s only six short months away!
How do you feel about birthday parties? I’d love to hear from you!
My mind won’t settle down long enough for me to answer your question at the end of the post, but I can tell you I over-plan, over-spend, over-fixate, but we rarely have themed parties. I just want the best food, best activities, best goodie bags. Target sees me coming three times a year and assigns me a personal shopper.
Ha ha! Love it! Oh, Target. It’s like crack for party planners.
I think I’m one of the few mothers on the planet who is not into birthday party planning. We didn’t even do ‘official’ parties when M was 1 and 2. But now that she’s older, super social, and really, really wants a proper party I don’t think I’m going to be able to get out of actually planning something…. Unless… Hypothetically… How do you feel about being bribed to plan someone else’s kid’s party? ;-P
Larks! You are not! I think you are in the majority. Hypothetically, I’m for hire!
I did the themes when my now 19 yo was little. Whatever he was obsessed with — shark-theme, trains, zoo. But now with the other two I’ve kind of slacked off. Curses. Reading the other posts with this birthday prompt has left me feeling rather guilty.
Oh no! No guilt! I think you should be the one standing back and laughing at our insanity. The kids don’t care! Ah, the irony.
I got personalized M&Ms for my twin boys’ first birthday as a party favor. Their theme was jungle animals. Lots of huge animal balloons around. Plus they had to have their own cakes. literally start planning the next year as I am cleaning up the current one. I am not as artistic as you, but I totally could give you a run for your money in the obsessive/neurotic planning department.
Love the personalized M&M idea!!! We did the personalized Jones Soda for O’s first b-day. So fun. SO expensive. Egads.
Sounds like we have the makings of a business plan…. xo
You are so clever Melisa! As always, your post was so fun to read. I don’t really like planning parties. But, since my boys were both born in winter, I just do the “hmm, wonder what full service-indoor place we are having it this year?” thing.
I am so glad your Mom is doing well. I only did 3.5 years of the 5 year drug part. I was running out of time to have another baby!
Thank you so much, Stacie! I am really grateful for your follow and am enjoying your site as well! Love your party game plan with your boys – brilliant! Thanks for your kind words about my mom – she reads each and every comment on my blog so I know she’ll appreciate your kindness. Thank you!
Creative and hilarious list! I especially love T is for tantrums. Have you started planning for next year? Also how very generous of you to let her have an opinion and have a cowgirl birthday!
Thank you, Robby!! Oh yes, it is going to be DOLPHIN theme (apparently the floodgates are permanently open on this whole “letting her have an opinion” thing. Dammit!
She is a crazy swimmer – part fish, I think – so she wants the party at the local pool. And oh yes, I am already trying to figure out how to rhyme “DOLPHIN” with “SIX” …. !
Ugh! Dumb thumbs! ROBBIE – please forgive that horrible typo, especially from someone with one “S” in MELISA.
Beautiful new lay out! This list cracks me up…S is for Sugar
I too am all caught up in EM’s 2nd birthday party planning…Mickey Mouse (who she loves and I have ready-made tons of extras, naturally!) Already planning the cakes with my Mom, fellow Wilton pan fan!
Oh thank you! My friend Erica has sweat blood and tears on this self-hosted site but I’m really happy with how it’s coming along. LOVE the Mickey theme! Can’t wait to see it – and how perfect that she loves Mickey! Would you let a child, even your own, stay in the house if they DIDN’T??
XO!
I have experienced “H” on more than one occasion.
How about this rhyme for my oldest daughter’s fifth birthday involving a Dalmatian theme?
“Bow-wow-wow-yippee-yo-yippee-yay.
It’s Coco’s fifth birthday.”
Bam! I know. Ellen
HA HA HA! Another thing that H is for.
Nice rhyme, sista! It’s so catchy!
Seems we have some mad skillz here, us mamas.
will concur that “S” is for sugar. The tops is 4 lbs of confectioners sugar the frosting for one of the cakes. Although I believe it was the “3″ octopus. Fun stuff.
Ha! Good one, love. Thanks for being the best teammate EVER. Love you!
L is for love it.
I is for Incredible.
S is for super.
T is for terrific.
I it’s great.
C is for …OK I am running on low but I heart this listicle so very much Yehhhaaa!
Your list is adorable! And so very true on many points