tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post2620146593944855444..comments2024-02-11T23:03:48.418-08:00Comments on torthúil: I hosted a birthday party!torthúilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07738803052167620020noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-46380305414840606272017-11-18T20:37:13.425-08:002017-11-18T20:37:13.425-08:00Thanks, and you are right about the new memories. ...Thanks, and you are right about the new memories. It’s quite exciting to think AJ is now making long term memories.torthúilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738803052167620020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-43813612819301621092017-11-16T19:36:06.804-08:002017-11-16T19:36:06.804-08:00I'm so glad you all had a good time and AJ wil...I'm so glad you all had a good time and AJ will grow up with these happy memories, and you get to make new ones. I wouldn't mind leftover pizza at all but that's me ;) The goodie bags are so cute! Adihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02489423723982017482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-61961125440004946992017-11-12T12:58:40.431-08:002017-11-12T12:58:40.431-08:00Yup it’s all about having fun and a little bit of ...Yup it’s all about having fun and a little bit of learning! I thought it was worth it too. It’s interesting to see how the children react in that setting as it’s not something I experienced.torthúilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738803052167620020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-5461925481871979552017-11-11T09:38:46.292-08:002017-11-11T09:38:46.292-08:00Good for you for doing this! I always find parties...Good for you for doing this! I always find parties exhausting because of cleaning the house, getting the food and theme organised, figuring out who to invite and then the clean up. But it is so worth it for the kid! I do think they struggle to share toys always! So that is par for the course at that age! But Nicky is getting better at that...Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00645501856133628248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-63313390081044743432017-11-10T19:39:09.287-08:002017-11-10T19:39:09.287-08:00Thanks! Yes it feels good to face fears. Yeah, I w...Thanks! Yes it feels good to face fears. Yeah, I wish things had been different with my long ago with my long ago friend....partly because I believe she was later bullied at school (I found a nasty drawing and message on the wall of a washroom stall years later and I believe it targeted her....but if it was her she was no longer at that school so it was too late to do anything. It’s just always bothered me. But yeah,no choice in the matter. Now I do have choices though so it’s important for me to encourage AJ to have good relationships with other children....even if I don’t have a lot of experience from my childhood to guide me.torthúilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738803052167620020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-82923323450522014282017-11-10T13:34:32.116-08:002017-11-10T13:34:32.116-08:00Congratulations, and happy birthday AJ! That's...Congratulations, and happy birthday AJ! That's a huge accomplishment. My best friend tells me about birthday parties and her attempts to not have to host them (she offers her children a "family experience" for a weekend or a party, most of the time they pick the experience, at least until last year...). That's so interesting about your background. I felt badly for your situation with the friend, but you had really no say in the matter. I'm glad you conquered the party -- it sounds like a resounding success, even with the live-and-learns! (Hilarious about the play-doh, didn't think of that either!)Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-87019692241353385592017-11-07T12:26:35.635-08:002017-11-07T12:26:35.635-08:00good for you for celebrating even though you'r...good for you for celebrating even though you're on the 24th haha! Yes, as people get older they have different expectations of these things: I haven't celebrated birthdays with friends in a while either, now that I think about it. In fact AJ's birthday dinner (the adult version) has become an excuse to get everyone together. Which is kind of embarrassing to admit, but I don't mind if I achieve two goals at once lol!torthúilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738803052167620020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-6644508777429765102017-11-07T02:49:52.253-08:002017-11-07T02:49:52.253-08:00Well that sounds like a sucess overall!! Hope you ...Well that sounds like a sucess overall!! Hope you continue to have fun birthday parties for her :) I used to always celebrate my birthday growing up and as an adult I often threw parties or went out with friends (dinner at a restaurant type thing). The past several years I haven't though. My birthday is also close to Christmas like you (I'm the 24th) so it can be so awkward like you say! People are busy or away and if I wanted a good turnout I had to postpone doing anything till January (after new years.) Past few years I've mainly just done a small family dinner nothing major. When we moved into our new house I wanted to have a housewarming event but we had loads of friends with young kids at the time and it just seemed too stressful. Also hubby is less into hosting events than me and finds it all stressful so we tend to just stick to smaller one or two couple dinners at a time if we have anyone over.dublinerinDeutschlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804856792598440633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-34356142405564794642017-11-06T18:56:53.659-08:002017-11-06T18:56:53.659-08:00Oh yikes, I didn’t even think about the parents no...Oh yikes, I didn’t even think about the parents not staying lol! I mean, I’d be fine but it sounds like a lot more work. Well that’s two years away anyway. Thanks for the easy/cheat party ideas I love them!torthúilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738803052167620020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-23823158918539158152017-11-06T07:36:47.581-08:002017-11-06T07:36:47.581-08:00Here from the roundup. I cheated for Suzy's fo...Here from the roundup. I cheated for Suzy's fourth birthday party: we went to a trampoline place for 1 hour of jumping and fruit afterwards. 3 friends from daycare, 1 no show from daycare because I didn't have their number and they missed the invite.<br />Because the minimum number of children I was paying for was 8 I also invited my sister in law with the 5 and 9 year old boys and Suzy's 17 year old half brother.<br />And because the place was quiet some adults jumped in as well.<br />Secretly relieved that we did not have so many children in our home.<br />I have an anxious feeling that at 5 years the parents do not stay during the party anymore...<br />Thanks for sharing.Valeryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210187335704409247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-19667693879302170902017-11-03T21:44:21.657-07:002017-11-03T21:44:21.657-07:00thanks! yes, sometimes it's best not to overth...thanks! yes, sometimes it's best not to overthink it!torthúilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738803052167620020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-68525095853617057962017-11-03T06:15:56.311-07:002017-11-03T06:15:56.311-07:00Way to go! Seems like you created a perfect balanc...Way to go! Seems like you created a perfect balance of fun and structure. So glad AJ had fun! Peghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02162890081910497200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-79553380472841271702017-11-01T13:51:01.374-07:002017-11-01T13:51:01.374-07:00Ha, thanks for sharing: it's good to know I...Ha, thanks for sharing: it's good to know I'm not totally weird for having mixed feelings about parties, though as I explained my background explains some of it. I'm not that fond of communal games either although they can help to get people involved who might be shy on their own. I did not attempt to get the toddlers/preschoolers to play organized games (ha!) but they did just fine on their own. Hmmm, never had birthday cake with jam and cream, that sounds yummy! Yeah, I am not one of the people who bonds with others simply over having kids: I can make the small talk but there needs to be some kind of connection. On the other hand I can't find those connections without trying so I'm please I am trying harder!torthúilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738803052167620020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-44340736682168729362017-11-01T10:08:29.874-07:002017-11-01T10:08:29.874-07:00Interesting to hear about your early childhood exp...Interesting to hear about your early childhood experience in a cult Torthúil, you don't hear that very often! I didn't really enjoy parties as a child as I was (am) introverted and found communal games etc painful (still do - I burn with hatred for anyone who suggests charades, or karaoke, or basically anything game-ish). I still hate hosting stuff and don't like gatherings of more than about four people. I have mum friends who have a lot of social anxiety over throwing/attending kids parties and meeting other parents; it's easy as someone without kids to assume people just 'bond' over having children but of course it's not true... One thing about kids' parties I miss is classic birthday cake, iced with jam & cream inside, I bloody love it! Good luckDifferent Shoreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01552043510975777003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-543772412328296252017-10-31T21:12:10.802-07:002017-10-31T21:12:10.802-07:00Thanks. Yes, I’ve heard of schools etc with the in...Thanks. Yes, I’ve heard of schools etc with the invite all rule. I can see the rationale and how select invitations could cause problems. Still, inviting AJ’s whole room would have been a terrifying idea for so many reasons. Maybe next year we will ask more people and use a space other than our house. I think the number for this year was just perfect.torthúilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738803052167620020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-14396653982151520172017-10-31T21:08:08.204-07:002017-10-31T21:08:08.204-07:00Thanks! I do know my limits so I was able to work ...Thanks! I do know my limits so I was able to work around them. Sometimes simple is good.torthúilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738803052167620020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-69892100590173810062017-10-31T21:06:21.373-07:002017-10-31T21:06:21.373-07:00I’m glad my story is encouraging! Good luck and tr...I’m glad my story is encouraging! Good luck and try not to dread it too much.torthúilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738803052167620020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-89178811636878446452017-10-31T17:29:37.613-07:002017-10-31T17:29:37.613-07:00Congratulations on throwing your first kid-centere...Congratulations on throwing your first kid-centered birthday party! It’s a bit of a trip when you have a background of not celebrating (my birthday is December 27th, so I can sympathize). So congratulations on the success!<br /><br />Our daycare/preschool has a rule about inviting only select students. I can see their rational as I’ve been on the receiving end of being excluded, but 10 families where I don’t know the parents has been interesting. Still, there’s been bonding that has happened through some of these events. Wishing you many more happy ones!Cristyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317873211902543387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-55860037398547210962017-10-31T15:28:32.359-07:002017-10-31T15:28:32.359-07:00Happy Birthday AJ! Also, I'm impressed at the ...Happy Birthday AJ! Also, I'm impressed at the amount of effort you put in to make sure it worked out!countingpinklineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13383905256508822573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227945636407573872.post-38739631351747548902017-10-31T15:17:13.277-07:002017-10-31T15:17:13.277-07:00Happy Birthday AJ! As an introvert with few frien...Happy Birthday AJ! As an introvert with few friends with any kids in a small town where I am very much an outsider, I am so stealing your template for party planning when the time comes!! I've been starting to freak out a full 6 months early about Bubs#1 turning 3 and if I should have a party and how to go about it. Glad yours was a success!! Well done!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11125140828976265146noreply@blogger.com