7th Birthday Parties and Presents

[guster]

First, I’m still a little in shock that we’re all going to have seven year olds soon, but I can putting aside to talk all things celebration.
Tell me what you’re planning!

[guster]

For the first time ever, I don’t have a plan!
Last year we went away for Josie’s birthday and everyone loved it, but so many of the options feel limited this year.
I think we might rent a place this year, but I’m not sure where or for what “event.”
As for presents, we’re talking about a kindle paperwhite and roller skates.

[klong11]

This year is a hard one. I don't know if we can have a party and I don't really like the drive by things.
I mentioned maybe picking just one friend to do something with, but idk what that something would be.

As for gifts she apparently told my mom she wants a Kindi Kid. It's similar to a baby alive I guess. I feel like it's a bit young for her, but whatever. I'm not buying it.

All that to say, I have no idea. Right now we are focused on Halloween. First time in 6 years she has changed her mind on what she wants to be. Normally she is adamant about a character, but she keeps going back and forth this year

[nam2013]

Ds will have a (smallish)birthday party in two weeks, 7 kids. Parents will drop them of, we’ve reserved an outdoor table under a huge rain/sun cover to eat some cakes and then we’ll do a magical treasure hunt. You can rent a little backpack at the visitors centre, so we made our lives easy this year.

As for his birthday, grandparents will come over for cakes (at a different time). Ds want to make a muffin/cup cake stand for people to take home when they stop by, which I think is cute and easy enough.

As for presents, he wants some woodworking tools, a subscription to a magazine and real binoculars. Dh and I will give him a drum practice pad and some little things. Add in buntings & decorations trough out the house, plus a big chocolate cake and I’ll think he’ll feel happy enough

[nam2013]

@klongoria your costumes are always amazing, what are the options this year?

[klong11]

Sept 21, 2020 6:05:32 GMT -6 nam2013 said:

@klongoria your costumes are always amazing, what are the options this year?

Haha, thanks! This year she wants to be a creepy clown. She showed me the costume she wants and I said no. It was too scary and came with plastic weapons. I told her no weapons. I showed her a tamer costume and she said ok. The next day she said she wanted all of us to be zombies instead. 😒 I don't care for either ideas, but I prefer a clown over a zombie.

[nam2013]

Sept 21, 2020 6:30:39 GMT -6 klong11 said:

Sept 21, 2020 6:05:32 GMT -6 nam2013 said:

@klongoria your costumes are always amazing, what are the options this year?

Haha, thanks! This year she wants to be a creepy clown. She showed me the costume she wants and I said no. It was too scary and came with plastic weapons. I told her no weapons. I showed her a tamer costume and she said ok. The next day she said she wanted all of us to be zombies instead. 😒 I don't care for either ideas, but I prefer a clown over a zombie.

Ugh I hate clowns! That would have been a hard no for me 😂😂😂.

[mwhip]

klong11 Evie loves Kinde Kids. She has 4 of them and most of the accessories. They're currently hanging out in my living room because she plays with them, by herself, for hours.

[wineallthetime]

C wants a Santa theme party (just family). I'm going to have him in Santa PJs with a beard, hat, bag, ect. L and A will be in elf PJs, the dog will have rain deer ears. I'll tell the cousins to wear Christmas (or whatever) PJs. I'm going to do little stockings for everyone with candy on the mantle, C will hand out Christmas ornament favors. I'm going to decorate with snow, ornaments, red crape paper to make things look like candy canes, ect. I'm excited!!

As for gifts, I'm unsure. He's tough. So far my gifts of possibilities are:
-legos or anything to build
-a snow scooter
-new fishing vest
-fishing lures
-new large tackle box
-books

[klong11]

Sept 21, 2020 7:01:59 GMT -6 mwhip said:

klong11 Evie loves Kinde Kids. She has 4 of them and most of the accessories. They're currently hanging out in my living room because she plays with them, by herself, for hours.

This is good to know! I was worried it would be something my mom bought and cadence played with just once. She loves her baby dolls, so hopefully this will be her as well.

[yummeecookee]

I told B she could have 2-3 friends over and we would do a paint night party with a Paris theme. She is having a hard time picking friends tho - Miss Popular has just “so many BFFs.”
Since her bday is actual Thxgiving this year, we will also have cake for her at the family dinner.

[nam2013]

wineallthetime if you’re looking for building stuff, this is great. Both ds and dd will play with it almost on a daily basis, they build huge structures, marble runs etc. They have lots of colours too.

www.amazon.com/KAPLA-Piece-Advanced-Animals-Architecture/dp/B000K09OL6/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=kapla&qid=1600695775&sr=8-4

[jewels]

Ugh I am stressed about this already. It will be too cold to do anything outside here by then, and we really only see 1 family inside. But he's been talking about/asking about a birthday party since B's (which was in August so he had a few families over for BBQ outside).

I have no idea what to do.

As to presents, literally every day he tells me more things he wants for his birthday. So far its:

More pokecards
Giant lego sets (he likes the ones that are like $200)
books
Nintendo Switch & games
his own tablet
More real tools
transformers
other stuff that I can't remember, I should probably start listening better

Obviously he won't get all of those things. And MH has been adamantly opposed to a switch for a while now, but I think I am going to convince him we should get it since I feel we'll probably be home a lot this winter.

[jewels]

Oh and he's been asking for guitar lessons and the school of rock that we used to go to is offering private lessons. I might start get him that.

[nam2013]

[mention]jewels [/mention] I’m a little worried about the weather too. I might just put up a small party tent on a parking lot, just so that in case it’s paring people can wave and watch ds unwrap his present without getting soaking wet...

Maybe this is something you can do to?

[jewels]

nam2013 it could easily be 30 degrees & snowy by that point here. I dunno. Maybe when it gets closer I’ll see how the weather is looking.

[nam2013]

Sept 21, 2020 9:04:10 GMT -6 jewels said:

nam2013 it could easily be 30 degrees & snowy by that point here. I dunno. Maybe when it gets closer I’ll see how the weather is looking.

Whoops! I wasn’t thinking about that it would probably be much colder there, sorry!

[flamingo]

We've been talking about this, too. Since DH will be gone, I do want them to have fun birthdays.

C's birthday is first (11/11); we'll just do a family party for her.

B would love something like a trampoline park but I told him to not count on that due to Covid. They're open here right now but not sure what Dec. will look like. I've seen 'game trucks' that will do onsite activities...Nerf wars, laser tag, etc. Our climate is mild enough that we could do something like that. I'm interested to see what he may be invited to this fall from classmates. We also talked about picking a few friends and doing an activity but I don't know what that would be.

As far as gifts...he wants all the Nerf things, and an iPad. iPad won't be happening but he can dream I know he'll get LEGO and books, and probably some stuff for sports. My dad just randomly sent him a bunch of fishing stuff so I think he's good there.

eta: oh, and he wants "Gators" themed party stuff. At least we're finally in the right state for that! 

[jewels]

Sept 21, 2020 9:28:44 GMT -6 flamingo said:

We've been talking about this, too. Since DH will be gone, I do want them to have fun birthdays.

C's birthday is first (11/11); we'll just do a family party for her.

For B, I know he'd love something like a trampoline park but I told him to not count on that due to Covid. They're open here right now but not sure what Dec. will look like. Same with a bounce house rental. I've seen 'game trucks' that will do onsite things...Nerf wars, laser tag, etc. Our climate is mild enough that we could do something like that. I'm kind of interested to see if he's invited to anything this fall from other classmates. We also talked about picking a few friends and doing an activity but I don't know what that would be.

As far as gifts...he wants all the Nerf things, and an iPad. iPad won't be happening but he can dream I know he'll get LEGO and books, and probably some stuff for sports. My dad just randomly sent him a bunch of fishing stuff so I think he's good there.

We just went to an outdoor gametruck party last weekend (2 weekends ago? I have no sense of time).  It was fun - the guy basically brought individual Switches for everyone and they just played.  It was in the person's backyard so the kids were able to run around too.  It was weird that they were basically independently playing, but they all seemed to have fun

The favor was personalized chairs, which the kids LOVED. And so much better than a bag of crap you usually get (not judging, I give them too).  So the kids sat in the chairs (which kept them from sitting in other people's spots and touching their stuff) and then took them home.

[jewels]

flamingo - in my town they have this company that sets up ninja courses at parties and stuff link. The kids all love it. I've wanted to rent them out for S but again, weather here in November is not conducive. Maybe there is something like that by you?

[guster]

Sept 21, 2020 9:04:10 GMT -6 jewels said:

nam2013 it could easily be 30 degrees & snowy by that point here. I dunno. Maybe when it gets closer I’ll see how the weather is looking.

This is where I am too. I thought maybe we’ll stay home and rent a bouncy house and a cotton candy machine and do a big balloon arch but if it’s 30° with the potential of snow I don’t want to plan something like that out.

[flamingo]

Sept 21, 2020 9:35:00 GMT -6 jewels said:

flamingo - in my town they have this company that sets up ninja courses at parties and stuff link. The kids all love it. I've wanted to rent them out for S but again, weather here in November is not conducive. Maybe there is something like that by you?

Oh that sounds fun, I'll have to look into it! 

[trtlcrzy]

I’ve only put a little bit of thought into this so far. Right now my state is exploding with covid cases so I need to see what’s going on in November to decide. I’m thinking we will invite my in laws and my sister’s family over for dinner and cake one night. Then invite a handful of her friends over to our house for a little party on the weekend.

She started her list to Santa in like April so I will just choose some things off of that probably.

[mwhip]

Sept 21, 2020 7:26:16 GMT -6 klong11 said:

Sept 21, 2020 7:01:59 GMT -6 mwhip said:

klong11 Evie loves Kinde Kids. She has 4 of them and most of the accessories. They're currently hanging out in my living room because she plays with them, by herself, for hours.

This is good to know! I was worried it would be something my mom bought and cadence played with just once. She loves her baby dolls, so hopefully this will be her as well.

If my kid will play with ANYTHING by herself, I will spend money on it because she usually wants us to play everything with her.  Which is why the Kinde Kid ambulance is being delivered via Amazon today...


I have put zero thought into a birthday party for this year, but we've never done one before, besides immediate family members, so we will likely do the same, since we have seen them during all this.  I don't know that I'd feel comfortable having a bunch of kids running around my house, potentially their parents, as well as the grandparents.

[tgrimes]

We'll probably just invite a couple kids that go to her camp and have it a drop off party, if we do a party. If numbers go up we'll just do a family only party.

[inthekitty]

jewels, I love the Switch (I've always been a Nintendo geek and still had my original up until a few years ago). There are a lot of games on there that encourage physical activity. The are hardy and last forever (see above--still had functional game system from the 80s until a few years ago and my original Gameboy still works too). The system can work on the TV or as a handheld. You can add Hulu and Youtube apps if you want. Also Mario Kart is a super fun 4 person game for the family.

That being said, Switch sales have increased 400% since Covid so they are very hard to get a hold of now and many third party retailers are jacking prices up. A regular Switch should be $300. Last I saw I could order one at my region's Target. So if you want to get it, start looking now because it could take weeks and it's currently overpriced on Amazon and Walmart.

[jewels]

thanks for the headsup inthekitty! I'll start looking now.

I'll probably reach out to you if I do find one to make sure it's the right thing that I found lol. I don't speak video game.

[inthekitty]

Sept 21, 2020 13:28:51 GMT -6 jewels said:

thanks for the headsup inthekitty ! I'll start looking now.

I'll probably reach out to you if I do find one to make sure it's the right thing that I found lol. I don't speak video game.

Lol. No problem. I'm happy to be your Nintendo expert.

[inthekitty]

M's been talking nonstop about her birthday (at the end of OCT...C is 3 weeks later mid-NOV). I've thought of a lot of different options but we'll probably wait until the last minute. We know we're not doing parties. I personally don't like the drive-bys so as long as the girls don't seem set on one we'll skip it. Cass has been wanting the entire family to go horseback riding so we might reserve a block of time at the indoor arena. M wants to get her hair done all fancy in the salon and a kid's place here does princess hairstyles (Maddie wants more of a goth princess look with half her head shaved and the rest dyed black, but hopefully I can get her to hold off on that until H.S.).

I think we'll just end up letting it be a special day for the girls where they get to pick what we do.

I'm annoyed because originally I had M's birthday off (it's on a SAT). Then my schedule changed. Now I might have to work 3 weekends in a row, before, on, and after her birthday. We might need to figure out a weekday I can take vacation to celebrate after she's done with school.

[wedding]

How much do the games cost for the Switch? I've seen prices like $50 a game and that seems nuts to me. I will get a switch and one game only!

jewels I have been half heartedly looking since July. C really wants one but I think I am going to hold off. I have literally only seen them in stock once. It was Best Buy online.