This weekend we hosted our grandson, Zach’s, fourth birthday
party in our backyard. Lots of fun, lots
of work and well worth it. Zach is in a
large preschool class and it is common to invite almost all of the kids and of
course at this age each comes with a parent.
Then there are the families you are friends with and have multiple
kids. The first guest list was
ridiculously long and my daughter whittled it down to 20 kids and 20 adults
including us. We always had at home and
backyard birthday parties for our kids but when they were this young it was
just a few kids. The boys invited just
boys and girls invited just girls. Times
have changed. Kids all play together and
everyone gets invited. This was many
more than I had in mind but we prayed for good weather and hoped for the best. No wonder so many birthday parties are at
venues away from home.
Fran, Zach’s Mom had chosen a camping theme with Zach and
she was in charge of planning, decorating and hosting. Josh, Zach’s Dad, did lots of the heavy
lifting with set up and clean up. Check out the cool camping theme decorations
and light - and mostly fresh and nutritious snacks available at the beginning
of the party. Food – other than grilling
was my job.
The kids could choose among free play with tents, pirate
ship, swings, fish in a pool, etc. and craft projects. One Mom organized games of Giant Steps and
Duck, Duck, Goose.
While Pop grilled 25 chicken legs, 20 hamburgers and 24 hot
dogs. That’s right - in the sweltering
heat. He’s a saint and our hero.
It didn’t rain but it was 90 degrees. Fortunately, the other
grandparents called the day before and offered this shade canopy tent. It made all the difference as adults stayed
there and kids came there to eat.
Zach’s other grandma is a cake decorator extraordinaire and
she pulled out all the stops with this cake with the camping theme. She had the whole campsite including 4 kids
in sleeping bags, tent, campfire, trees, lake with fish, a bear and a
deer. The cake was outlined in rock
shaped candy.
The kids and adults were equally impressed by this amazing
cake. Zach looked at the cake in awe
(arms crossed) as we sang Happy Birthday.
Everyone had a great time and people lingered passed the end
time. Then the big cleanup – over two
days! On Saturday, we cleared the food,
washed down everything and when it was dry put away tables we didn’t want to be
out overnight. On Sunday Fran and Josh
cleaned up the rest and Zach showed off all his birthday gifts.
My husband and I were exhausted when it was over. Have you
hosted a grandchild’s birthday party or plan to? Please post in the comments and tell us all
about it.
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