So after every birthday party, as my husband and I lay on the couch and feel an ache in every bone in our bodies, we tell ourselves that next year we won't do a birthday party. That surely the child in question is old enough now that a party isn't necessary, that a few friends over for pizza and a movie is more than acceptable. And we agree that never again will we bake cupcakes, run out for plates and napkins that match the child's chosen theme, find balloons, treat bags and treats for each guest, make invitations and actually mail them. Never again will we spend a few hours making sure we get those fun moments on camera, worry if everyone is having as much fun as possible, pass each other by as we try to play with the kids while manning the party and basically keeping tabs on 15+ kids that might be in the throes of serious sugar highs.
And then something happens. It happens every single year. Eleven months go by and we forget those silly promises we made to each other. We forget about the aches and just remember the smiles and fun we had with our friends. And we make the second mistake (the first was the forgetting, see the last sentence)... we actually ask our child if they want a birthday party with their friends. Because they would actually say no?!?
So this year was no different, as we planning for KK's 7th birthday we started tossing ideas around about what she could do to celebrate with her friends. We started with the idea of going to see Frozen (her absolute favorite movie before it was even released to view) with a few girlfriends. But we learned something very quick: it is impossible to pin down a list of four friends when you are six-going-on-seven and have so many friends, each that are special to you. Friends from school, friends from soccer, friends from the neighborhood... so what was a girl to do?
Have a COSMIC BOWLING birthday party of course! Thanks to Grandma who actually tossed out the idea of bowling! We just added a little twist because it seems like seven year olds like neon flashing lights, loud music and glowing bowling balls! It was such a hit, as the pictures will soon show.
Here are the cupcakes I made! Notice the color theme and plates are FROZEN! Had to incorporate our still favorite movie (especially after finally seeing the movie)! You can't tell but we added white glitter sprinkles to the cupcakes as "ice" is in the movie too.
Here are a few of the guests with KK in lane #2 ready to get this party started! Granted I don't think any of them had really bowled much, if at all, but they had fun trying. They were chanting for each other yelling "Go Go Go". That is when they weren't dancing, singing silly songs and coming up with cheers.
As Baby Kins is officially running (not walking), her Mommy #2 took over for us and spoiled her a little with snuggles and lots of holding/watching so we could officiate the party. Thank goodness for her!!!
In lane #3 it is AJ and a few of his crew! Watch out, these guys did some amazing bowling and scored as high as the older kids. There might have been some wrestling and they might have "accidentally" taken the neighboring lanes expensive custom bowling ball to play with because it was a cool color and oh so heavy. And when I say "accidentally" I mean the did it every other frame. Luckily the owner of said ball was a grandfather of several boys and was enjoying the antics. AJ did great by the way, he hasn't bowled much but he managed (with perhaps a little help from Daddy) to win the round.
Here are the girls in lane #1 - these girls were the serious bowlers of the party and had some pretty amazing moves! Let's just say I will not be attempting to play against them anytime soon.
So not only was our party original (first ever bowling party for anyone in our crew), I had a lot of fun with the theme. I mean cosmic bowling means dark lanes and flashing lights... so I got everyone some glow bracelets and some flashing neon light up rings. And of course a glitter Frozen sticker. I mean great treat bags and we got to hand them out at the beginning of the party so we could use them right away! KK and I had fun putting that together :-)
LOL - AJ blinked right as I took this picture of him and one of his BFFs
Not only were we bowling, we were having serious debates about the correct order of the hand slapping songs we were singing.
Our birthday girl had some great moves! She even got a strike! Pretty amazing considering she has only played this a few times.
Me and my handsome boy - he kept coming up to me at the party to tell me he was having a lot of fun. Here is some other fun I captured:
So I always ask our guests to take a group picture with our kids before we do cake - I love seeing everyone together and making sure we can always remember our friends that celebrated alongside us. I'm a camera nerd, if you couldn't tell already.
And just to make sure the kids don't get too upset by being forced to take a picture, we do a silly shot:
Yes, there in the corner is Baby Kins walking into the picture. How dare we not include her in pictures!
So of course she got to sit with her birthday sissy for a picture after that :-)
Now my personal favorite part, having everyone together and listening to their little voices singing. I love the look of joy on KK's face as she looks around at all her friends. I hope that she's thinking what I am thinking: how blessed are we to have so many people around us daily that love us. It is humbling and amazing.
Love this shot!
Make a wish!
Baby Kins sure loved the fishy crackers and treats!
My boys!
Somebody was hugging the boy she's going to marry! She was so cute, Baby Kins just kept talking baby talk to him and smiling, then she would reach her little arms out and lean into him to hug him. Love them!
Here are a few other shots of KK and her friends throughout the party:
What a party! KK was too tired to even walk to the car after all that - but she was still beaming two hours later :-)
Happy Birthday KK! KK loved her party and I think all her friends did too! Lots of smiles and laughs all around for the kiddos and the adults. Even my husband was commenting on the way home about how he had fun and thought everyone he talked to enjoyed the party. Our kids were too tired to even talk by the time we got to the car. The cupcakes were devoured, the white trash Chex mix inhaled (mostly by the adults), kids were yawning as they packed up to go and hugging KK goodbye... Success!
Hearing KK tell me how it was the best party ever as she started to fall asleep, still smiling from ear to ear as she kept telling me about all her favorite moments - which was pretty much every moment - cinched it for us, this was a great day!
And as I took these pictures and laughed and smiled the entire two hours I thought this is totally worth every.single.minute. There is no better way to celebrate our KK's birthday than with the very friends we spend every other day with.
(But as my husband and I sit here on the couch together once again, we say aloud that maybe - just maybe - next year she is old enough to just invite a few friends over for pizza. Ha!)
After all that partying, our family is wiped out! Sweet dreams Y'all!
A special thank you to all our friends who joined in our celebrating today ~ it wouldn't have been such a great time without you! You made KK's day and that means you made mine too! Love you guys!
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