Birthday Party

My daughter's birthday was last week, and this weekend we had the party. It was originally planned as an outdoor party at our church's playground. I had an alternate rain location set for my house, but was SURE we weren't going to need it. Guess what?! It rained, and rained and rained. I had to rack my brain for what to entertain the kids with :) Originally I had planned sidewalk chalk drawing contest, a pinata, use of the playground, a bbq, and other outdoor-type activities. Well, that was going bust.
So, I called my sister who always has great ideas! She suggested party games such as pin the tail on the donkey and musical chairs. Then we came up with the idea of an indoor picnic. I put all of the snacks in baskets lined with paper towels, I put a tablecloth on the floor for the kids to eat on like a picnic, and we still had hot dogs and hamburgers as standard fare.
The kids played games, used my kids car track and other sharing toys. The men cooked outside under a rigged tarp. The women watched the kids and helped me with the games. We all had fun! :-)
My daughter received many wonderful presents, even though we had stated that no gifts were required. I felt funny asking for presents in this kind of economy and knowing the trouble some families are having right now. My daughter told me it's ok, all she wanted was her friends all to come and play and have cake with her! How wonderful is that. But - she did receive presents, and they were wonderful. Some arts and crafts things, some imaginative play things, and some outdoors things. Oh, and some things to help make her more beautiful! :) My dad decided to give her money in a card so she could decide what she wanted and buy it herself. When she saw the money, she said, "look mommy, imagine all the poor kids I can help with this in the church donation!" I almost cried!
All in all it was a great day, and I am still recovering! LOL One of the reasons we decided not to have the party at our house is that it always takes me about a week to clean up after it and I didn't want to go through that this time, especially being on my own. But alas, it was not to be. So I sit here amidst not-put-away toys and empty baskets awaiting their return to their rightful places and content kids playing with the new toys :-)
In fun and love,
One Christian Mom