In which Sir O has a birthday party

Last week we (finally) had a birthday party for Sir O.  I had to consign myself to the fact that it would not be the sort of over-the-top production that I really enjoy throwing.  And I reminded myself about a hundred times that the most important thing was for Sir O and the kids to have a good time.  Unfortunately we headed into the party with Sir O all ornery and strung out from our camping weekend, so he was a bit touch-and-go.  But with some parental acrobatics, I think it went over all right.

Because Sir O's big and exciting birthday gift had been a new bike with training wheels (with which both he and the Captain are obsessed), I had all the kids bring their bikes (or scooters, or wiggle cars) and we had a bike party.  We started with a bike wash.  The overachiever in me wanted to create something like this, but the realist on a budget in me handed the kids sponges, buckets of soapy water, cheapo water guns, and bubbles in front of a fan.  I don't think the kids felt cheated at all.  In fact the bubbles in front of the fan (because I couldn't find batteries for our bubble machine) may have been the most popular event of the whole party.

After the bikes were all clean, we decorated them with crepe paper, curling ribbon, and balloons. We are inordinately fond of balloons around here. I gave every bike a gold-star award. (Some on-the spot creativity for me), handed out party noisemakers, and then we had a bike parade down the sidewalk to our neighbor's driveways. It was insane, and my ankles were nipped a dozen times. But the kids were smiling so I call it a success.

 

Sir O was a bit of a bear a few times, but with some careful parental maintenance, we avoided full-blown melt downs until after the party. Now that we've smoothed back into our routine he's back to being a reasonably pleasant human being.  He's awfully likeable when he's not strung-out.

 

There followed the traditional cupcakes, candles, presents, and an awfully amusing game of red rover.
I give myself a pat on the back for surviving my first real "friend" party for my children. Luckily Mr Renn's sister and HSF stayed around to be insanely helpful. Had we been more outnumbered than that, I think the party would have flopped.

 

And I'm still trying to wrap my brain around having a 5-year-old! Too soon! Too soon!