Mad? Or Sensible?

[NotQuiteCockney]

The DSes are due their birthday parties, weekend after next (they will be 2 and 5). If past parties are any sign, there will be bazillions of people, total zoo etc etc. I doubt many kids will be left here w/out parents, as DS1 has just started at his new school.

DH wants to have his team over to see the "new" house. I'm not very motivated about this.

The current plan is to have the kids' party from 2:30 to 4:30, and invite his workmates over then and later. I will do adult-friendly food for the party (I always do), and we'll have booze etc I guess. I'm not serving dinner per se to all these people, and I don't think it will be a late night.

We were thinking about having kids one day, adults the other, but a whole weekend of serving and cleaning and faff would drive me nuts. This way, the place doesn't have to be pristine for the adult party, as we just had kids over!

Will I be completely insane by that night, though?

[TitianRed]

I'd go for it and if people offer to make something for the party, take them up on it. Will you get plenty of help and support from DH and other parents as regards clearing up etc? Have fun!

[Greensleeves]

No, not if you organise everything beforehand - be really anal about it, prepare food beforehand as much as you can, and could you arrange for you to have a short break at some point to go for a walk on your own, while another adult manages things? Perhaps while the children are eating? Also find out how many other adults there are going to be and delegate stuff to them in advance?

It does sound quite daunting, but I personally would rather have one crazy day than drag it out over a whole weekend

[nailpolish]

nqc we do this EVERY year

dd's birthdays are close together here too

we have been VERY lucky with the october weather - one year we even had a spontaneous bbq

i know for a fact it would be a different storyif it was raining

my mother is horrified by the fact that i have paper cups and plates, but to me they are a godsend. i also get caterers to do the spread (we have a fabulous deli near us)(and im not very good at cooking, i also get in a bad mood and it spoils my enjoyment tbh) but i also do a huge pot of chilli and rice. and of course the birthday cakes.

the children come about midday and stay for a couple of hours. if its warm and they are playing outside they can stay as long as they like. some close friends also come at this time but most dont come round til about 3pm, when the house is then full with about 40 folk

most go home about 7, but a lot stay til past midnight sometimes! if you stay that long you have to help tidy up a bit

i plan a bottle of wine for each female and 5 cans of beer for each male. everyone always brings something too so there is PLENTY to go around

hth

[nailpolish]

tell everyone to help themselves too, stress this many many times and your work will be cut in half

and leave boxes around for the rubbish (at the back door, under the kitchen table etc)

and keep tabs on numbers, 40 can quickly become 60

[NotQuiteCockney]

I don't think numbers will be too bad, it's going to be next Saturday, and I'm just sorting out invites now. DH is talking about just bringing his team from work, so should be 10 people or something. He's also talking about them all going out for a beer after or something.

I always do food ahead of time. This year's plan:

• filo parcels (worked v well last year)
  
• guacomole, refried beans, nachos
  
• cake
  
• fruit
  
  I think?
  
  Bouncy castle, too. Must sort that out!

[NotQuiteCockney]

Annoyingly, the neighbour who often helps will be busy. But I think we can dragoon some other no-kids people to help, and lots of my parent-friends are v helpful people, anyway - I think last year, the place wasn't scary at all after the party, because a friend went a bit mad with the tidying ... must remember to invite her again this year.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Oh, yes, Franny. She disappeared a few days back, wanted to take a break. She's still doing email, or was, last time I checked.

[nailpolish]

nqc i think the food menu sounds excellent

nice and non-complicated

bouncy castles are always hit too

[NotQuiteCockney]

I do pretty much the same thing every year. Vegetarian, no fuss. Hmm, maybe I'll get sausages or something, too?

Filo parcels were very easy and very popular. I did cheese + pumpkin, and cranberry and brie. Something like that. Folded the two types differently, so you could always tell the difference.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Hmm, the child-oriented part of the party is essentially planned. I have to do a big food order, and a bit of tidying and a lot of cooking, but the plan is set, the invites are made, etc etc.

The adult-oriented bit is of course still a mess. Some of DH's colleagues will come. Maybe we will go out for dinner, after the kids are down? (Realistically, will I be up for that? Probably not.) Who will babysit? Oh, will we get food in? If so, what? Gah.