Party Planners

Alicia is very fond of birthday parties.  Particularly her own!  She plans her birthday parties years in advance.  When she discovers a new party theme she likes, we just tack it on to the end of the list.  I think we’re up to her 11^th birthday at this point, at least on paper.  If you ask her, she’ll tell you she is 6 ¾ right now.

Lucky for Alicia, I also have a fondness for birthday parties…  I’ve often said one of the best reasons to have kids at all is to be able to plan birthday parties for them!  (That, and for those times when you can’t find the remote…)

Throughout the years, Alicia has helped me plan and execute her birthday soirees.  There was the Princess Party when she turned 4.  Everyone was dressed up as a prince or princess.  The cake was a pink castle.  This was back in the day when we still claimed to like both pink and princesses.  We’ve moved on.  To the point of selling all of our dress up gowns on craigslist to finance a Build-a-Bear shopping spree for our best friend, Rosabelle, the kitty.  Anyway, I digress.

Our 5^th birthday party was a Little Mermaid themed pool party held at the local indoor waterpark.  One might think living in Alaska and having a January birthday would limit the “pool party” options.  Not so!  There’s a large indoor waterpark in Anchorage which is a balmy 84 degrees year round.  They’ve got waterslides, a wave pool, a giant pirate’s ship, and a lazy river.  The perfect setting for our Ariel fan to celebrate with her friends.

Last year, we went the polar opposite with a snowy penguin themed party for our 6^th birthday.  As I was solidly engrossed in the cake business, I felt like I didn’t put as much effort into last year’s party as I would’ve liked.  I don’t think Alicia really noticed.  She had her friends over.  They played penguin themed games at which they won tickets to spend at the prize booth.  There were also sled races around our circular drive.  We even got a bunch of great photos.  But, only because one of the guests’ moms commandeered my camera and went to town snapping photos of all the girls.  Overall, I just felt frazzled and less organized than I normally am at a party event.

So, this year… It’s going to be even better.  This year’s theme: Luau.  We’ve already begun our preparations.  The cake has been designed and partially baked.  We’ve tested out the virgin pina colada recipe.  Delish.  I’ve started making origami flowers and silk flower hair clips to serve as part of the goody bags.  Stephen’s putting together a limbo game.  We even bought a giant tub full of luau gear this past summer at a yard sale in anticipation of this year’s birthday party.  See!  It can be pretty handy to know your themes FAR in advance!

The party isn’t for another couple of weeks.  But, if all goes according to plan, it should be a doozy!