Kids in the Balls

GirlsGoneChild — Wed, 27 May 2009 06:39:00 GMT

Archer turned four on Saturday and to celebrate we had ourselves a party.

I'm not a party planner by any means. I love going to weddings but you couldn't pay me to have had my own. Getting married in Vegas in jeans was quite positively the only way I would ever get married. And not just because it cost a grand total of $199.99. (I'll totally drink your free booze and get all drunk and stupid at your wedding but there's NO WAY IN HELL ~~my parents are going to pay~~ I'm paying tens of thousand of dollars to get my friends all stupid and drunk at mine, can I get an amen?)

I kind of feel the same way about parties. The last birthday party I had was my 21st and I threw up all over myself the entire time so there you go. Hosting parties makes me sick to my estomago.

In all seriousness, though, I'm not a planner. While all the other mothers were planning their kids' 1st, 2nd and 3rd Birthday parties I was hosting casual family gatherings at my parent's house for Archer. Because, frankly, he didn't care where we were, who was there or what was going on, as long as there was cake.

Archer's 4th Birthday Cake c/o Naya's Garden

This year would be the exception. A fourth birthday seemed especially worthy of a celebration. Not that a third, second and first aren't worthy ... It's just that Archer was finally old enough this year to WANT a birthday party. And I was old enough to realize that I wouldn't necessarily have to do all this crazy planning to give him one.

Can I get an Amen to that, hello.

Amen! Also, Four!! shirt by Paper Lili

Two words. Naya's Garden. I know there are several amazing all-inclusive birthday party venues in Los Angeles but Naya's Garden kicked so much ass I want to be their spokesperson from here until eternity. They did EVERYTHING and for a whole lot cheaper than some of the other local venues and I did my homework, yo. I really did. Not only did we have the (indoor/outdoor/climbing wall/ball thing/bouncy/etc) venue to ourselves for two hours but they also supplied pizza and juice for the kiddos, a delicious and customized-with-awesome cake, balloons, face-painting and tattoos, and amazing Melissa & Doug toys for the "goodie bags" ... All I had to do? Bring food and drink for the parents which was easy. Sandwiches, salads and drinks = we were a go.

Not only did Archer and fifteen of his closest buddies have the omg time of their lives but so did I. I never thought I would feel that way about a party I hosted but truly? It was so totally great and easy and fun and low-maintenence, I totally want to do it again next weekend. And the weekend after that. And the weekend after that.

Thank you, Michelle from Naya's Garden for being so totally kick-ass awesome. We'll so totally be back.

Hal and Fable, official greeters.

And to you, my Babble readers? I'd love to hear what YOUR favorite local mom-and-pop venues are for kid's birthday parties. Maybe help a mom out who, like me, is overwhelmed by the prospect of throwing a kid's birthday party and/or doesn't have the space to throw a party in his/her own home.

Party on, Wayne.

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Straight from the Bottle : nayas garden

Kids in the Balls