Straight From the Bottle

OMG - Fable seriously has a significantly cuter wardrobe than I do! :)

I'm not from around LA, but when I throw a birthday party for my kids, I keep it super simple.  Lasagna from Costco (x2), garlic bread from the store (only need to put in the oven for about 15 mins).  Something to drink and we're set.  I don't do much decorating, we have one sign that says "Happy Birthday King Monkey (not his name :o) )!" that we had made for his first birthday (actually a gift from our neighbor, he  makes signs).  We hang that up every year and presto just add guests.  The kids don't care about decorations, they only care if there is cake there.  This year I went ALL OUT and we made foam door hanges.  The pressed on foam pieces to their foam door hanger and we had tons of fun.  You don't have to go over the top to have a good time.  Sounds like you guys had a great time. Who doesn't love a bouncy!

I live on the East Coast of canada and i have been to a bunch of birthday parties at this great local park by the water. they have a pile of huge gazebos where you can hang out. Premake some sandwhiches grab some juice boxes and a cake DONE. loads of room to run around a huge play ground and a pond full of ducks! We also have a pinata just cause they are super fun.

Yeah. We were going to do the park thing at first but Archer's birthday is always on Memorial Day Weekend when you can't reserve picnic tables at any of our parks. Too much risk for not snagging a spot and being like "welcome to Archer's party on the cement next to the bathroom!"

Love park parties, though. And how beautiful to run around with the ducks! Sounds gorgeous and ideal!

The Park! That is our birthday venue. Same park each year!

Naya's Garden was awesome, that cake was heavenly and fun was definitely had- even for a very determined to not have fun almost 5 year old I know that lives in my home. Those after party "goodie bags"- totally unexpected and cool. Sand art is a new favorite in this house.  Many thanks!!!!

The only birthday parties that we seem to go to are hosted at home, so I'm no help.  But I'm glad that you all had such a wonderful time at Archer's fourth! =)

Here in Bklyn NY, there aren't many cool options like Naya's Garden. So sad! We usually have parties in my tiny-ass urban backyard. At least thats where I had my husbands 30th bday. Planning on having my sons 1st in the yard too. Its small but like you said all that matters is there is cake and a Mariachi Band! LOL. thats my plan at least!

Wish me luck!

C

I live just outside of Austin TX and I'm sure there are plenty of WONDERFUL locations to have birthday parties, but... so far my daughter's birthday parties have consisted of our friends, family, beer and bar-b-que in the backyard. And the parties are always a hit. She is 4 now and doesn't care as long as there is cake, presents, and people. I'm hoping we can continue this for a few more years. I don't think I'd be too good at traditional kid birthday parties.

BTW, been a lurker here for a few weeks. Love your blog!

Archer's "Four" t-shirt is absolutely adorable! =o) I love how it's in a comic book graphic. And I'm not a parent but I'd have to say that a great place to have a birthday party would be, a kid's amusement park. I mean what kid doesn't love rides, right? ;o)

Here, on the zit on the ass of California, Chuck-E-Cheese is apparently the gold standard and apex of all birthday parties.  Unless you're a girl; then it's something like Mary Kay salon for girls, with facials, mani/pedis, and plastic "gold" crowns for your four 4-year-old princess.

In San Francisco, we love having parties at recess urban recreation, a membership indoor playspace that is totally awesome and was started by two moms.  You don't have to be a member to have a party there.

www.recessurbanrecreation.com

Amen about the wedding blurb!

Party on, Garth

i am poor and am all about the do it yourself kind of parties. i have games and prizes (from the dollar store) gallore. we play hot potato, limbo, freeze dance, pin the tail on the donkey and we do arts and crafts too. i will have a pizza delivered, serve up some homemade cake, whack a pinata and we are done. best birthdays ever.

I was all gung ho thinking "WOW A park!  That's great.  We have a great park here, with a picnic area that has a nice gazebo thing.  We'll totally have Eli's birthday party there next year."  Then I remembered that a picnic in december in NJ is probably not going to be awesome.

I have 1.5 more years before he needs a party that he'll remember, but you've given me inspiration at least...  I might have to start looking now for fun inside stuff to do.

i'll give you an AMEN! i got married at city hall in a chocolate brown dress and would not have survived a big wedding.

looks like archer had a great party. awesome cake.

I had my daughter's third birthday last month at a bounce house place - Bouncin' Off the Walls in Salt Lake City.  It was a couple hundred bucks, but you just show up, bring loads of extra kids and let them have the time of their lives.  The three year old boys from C's day care class stood together saying "we at party!" while the girls were off having 10 words sentences discsussing the slides, the balls, the pizza and the cake.  Everybody loved the huge inflatable slide, including parents, and I didn't clean the house before and again after the party, so this year, even though it was spendy, I didn't spend a ton of time on prep and aftermath, and it was totally worth it and a screaming good time.  When I saw the first kids come down the mega slide I knew I'd spent my money well.  Picture their hair streaming out behind them and their faces wild with excitement - too fun!!

Archer looks so grown up, and Fable so gorgeous, again the lovely GGC family.  Well done, Rebecca!

Well...you probably can guess what mine is since I've mentioned it like 6 times on this blog: Bob Barker Marionettes, dammit!

My kids also love to party at Chuck E Cheese, but my favorite way to do it is to eat first, because the food is  overpriced and it sucks!  I got sick both times I ate there.  So eat at home or get happy meals (with toys!), bring  coupons for game tokens, and just play.  The kids love it when they don't have to stop playing just to eat really bad pizza.