Birthday party dilemma - the decision

Thanks so much to everyone who commented on my recent post - birthday party dilemma.  I really appreciated all the different ideas and views that everyone had (although it didn't make it easy to come to a decision!).  Just wanted to give you a quick update with my decision (because I know you're all just dying to know).  I've decided to just invite the 5 or 6 girls that Annika wants from her class.  While it makes me sad to exclude the other girls, what it really came down to for me was what several people said in the comments - make sure the party is what Annika will enjoy.  It's no secret that Annika is not a "big crowd" kind of girl.  Even having 5 or 6 friends over at the same time might be a bit much for her.  A party of 10 or 11 would completely overwhelm her.  So unfortunately, we will be excluding some of the others (and since I only have contact info for 2 of the parents, the invites will have to be "discretely" handed out at school), but I think it will be for the best. And while I think the idea of "no school friends at the birthday party" is a good idea in some cases, it just wouldn't work right now - Annika doesn't have very many friends outside of her school friends, and she would be terribly disappointed if she didn't get to invite any of them.

During the past week, to distract myself from all the illness that won't seem to leave us alone (I'm still having my pity party, as we are still not back to 100% - mostly Annika), I decided to design the party invitation (yes, I know it still a long way off, but like I said - I needed a distraction).  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  The party theme will be rainbows, in case you couldn't tell! ;)

Birthday party dilemma

Annika's birthday is still 2 months away, but since she's been at 2 birthday parties in the past 2 weeks, I've got birthday on the brain lately. 

I've decided to do her party at home this year (am I crazy?? probably - seems like no one does home parties anymore), but I'm feeling a little conflicted over the guest list.  In the past we've intentionally kept the kids' birthday parties small, and it hasn't been too much of a problem since they really didn't have a large group of friends (at least not all from one place).  It was no problem to just invite 4 or 5 kids.  However, now with Annika being in kindergarten things are a little different.  There are 11 girls in Annika's class, including Annika.  There are about 5 that are "good friends" that she's already said that she wants to invite (she also has birthday on the brain, but that's more of a year-round thing).  So, do I just go with the 5 girls that she wants to invite (and be thankful that she doesn't want a large party), or do we invite all the girls?  I shudder at the idea of having 12 kids (including Emmett) running around our house, but part of me doesn't want to exclude anyone.  One of the parties that Annika was invited to recently was a "not-so-good" friend, and Annika was absolutely over the moon that she had received an invite.  She went and had a blast, and who knows, maybe made some connections that she wouldn't have otherwise.  And maybe that's the case with some of the other girls in the class - maybe they would love an invitation, love to be included.  Maybe it would be the start of a new friendship.  Even though Annika already has her few good friends and her "best friend", I think that it's still quite early in their lives to be making friends, and friendship groups are more fluid at this point (than say, in a few years from now, when cliques become more solid).

So, I'm torn.  Do I only invite a few?  Do I invite them all? (and cross my fingers that at least several won't be able to make it?).  What's your experience with birthday parties?  I'd love to hear some stories - what you've done in the past or what you would do in this situation.  And if you could please leave your comment here, instead of on my Facebook link, that would be great (just so I have them all together in one spot).  If you don't have an account to log in, you can leave an "anonymous" comment (although I'd appreciate if you at least left your first name at the end of your comment).  Thanks!!

It's not easy being green

Having some fun at the clothing exchange this evening.

Alone time / together time

This weekend Carey is going on a fishing trip with a bunch of his guy friends, so I'll be on my own with the kids.  However, this evening, my in-laws will be taking the kids for supper and the evening (until about 8:00 - bedtime), so I'll actually have a bit of time all to myself.  And guess what I have planned - absolutely nothing.  I didn't even attempt to make plans with anyone.  I'm looking forward to spending that time alone.  Now that may sound strange to some of you, but I really thrive on having alone time.  Yes, I enjoy spending time together as a family, and I enjoy spending time with the kids (especially when I get to have one-on-one time with each of them), and I enjoy spending time with just Carey, but equally important to me is just spending time with myself. 

Any mother can tell you how much they appreciate a quiet house, but I was like this even before I had kids (although I've probably come to appreciate it even more since having kids).  I think it started the year after I graduated.  I went to Guatemala for 3 months with a program through Canadian Mennonite University called "School of Discipleship" (it's since been renamed "Outtatown").  Even though we were a group of about 30, we were all individually billeted in local houses for a large portion of the time.  I didn't speak much Spanish, and my host family wasn't overly friendly (or perhaps it just seemed that way), so I spent quite a few nights alone in my room.  It got dark shortly after suppertime and girls weren't encouraged to walk alone through the town, so unless we had a group outing, or I could find a male escort to pick me up and walk me home, then I was pretty much stuck.  I got used to it, and I actually really liked it.  And I still do, to this day.

Now, before you think I'm a total hermit, I have to admit that since becoming a mother, I've actually also come to appreciate getting out (or having people over) and just being with other people more.  As much as I'm looking forward to my evening alone tonight, I'm equally looking forward to tomorrow evening, when the other "fishing widows" and kids will be coming over for a potluck supper.  I think when you're home alone with kids all day, you need these kind of interactions to keep your sanity.  Like my Y Neighbours group - I don't know where I'd be without them.  I never miss a Tuesday morning, if possible.  I even will wake up the kids if they're sleeping in (which I hate doing!) so we can get there on time.  Playdates are another thing I've come to appreciate.  They're not just good for kids - they're good for mommies too.

So this evening I will be eating my supper alone, and enjoying every minute of it.  Every minute of not having to cut up food, coax a few more bites, leave the table to change a diaper, or rush through my supper to make a bottle.  I will enjoy the peace and quiet.  And tomorrow, I will enjoy the sound of laughter and noise, the kids running around, the fellowship around the table, and the general pleasure of being among good friends.