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Post by iamkristinl16 on Nov 9, 2014 23:27:48 GMT
I realize this is a petty post. But I am looking for some suggestions as to when to have my son's birthday party. He will be 6. He wants to have it at the rock climbing wall. I would like to have it Nov 23, the day before his birthday. DH is also off that day, which is unusual since he works most weekends. However, the only time available is 5-7pm. I was planning to serve cake and maybe a few other snacks, but there is not a lot of space for more food there. It is also quite a walk from the parking lot to the wall (it's on a college campus) so carrying a lot of stuff is a pain. Last time we had it there DH wasn't there to help with that so maybe it would be easier to bring more food this time?
The other option would be December 6, two weeks after his birthday. Last year I remember thinking that I wasn't doing that again since we and others are so busy in December. DH would not be there, but the party would be from 11-1or 3-5.
Which would you choose? If you did the 23rd, what would you bring for food?
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Post by lesleyanne on Nov 9, 2014 23:33:03 GMT
Oh, crummy choices. Both my girls are December babies, the older one mid-Dec. I figured out by about age 6 NEVER to have December parties. It inevitably does not work out.I would not choose Dec 6.
But I don't like the time, 5-7 either. Especially because it's a Sunday and he's little, I think some parents might say no because it's a school night and they want to be ready for the week. If I did, I would try to serve a meal because of the time. Have pizza delivered and bring some fruit/veggie trays.
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Post by redshoes on Nov 9, 2014 23:33:28 GMT
23rd and put on the invite that cake and drinks will be served. Those invited will know to eat dinner either before or after.
I'm sure some will say you need to serve dinner (pizza or something) due to the dinner timeframe but you'll be lucky to have the kids stop long enough for cake!!
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Post by kristi on Nov 9, 2014 23:35:01 GMT
For the 5-7 party, I would think food would be served. With the time change & being the Sunday before thanksgiving, people might not be able to make it.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Nov 9, 2014 23:42:52 GMT
Another option would be to look into another venue. I don't want to have it here because I am scrapbooking the 21st and 22nd. I don't want to have to worry about the house getting/staying cleaned while I'm gone. I was looking at renting a gym that is close by but wasn't sure if that was a recipe for disaster.  . I also don't know if it is available that day. |
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Post by myshelly on Nov 9, 2014 23:46:15 GMT
I would go for the 3-5 time spot. At an 11-1 party or a 5-7 party I would expect a meal. If you don't want to do that have it from 3-5. And maybe book earlier next year |
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Post by littlemama on Nov 9, 2014 23:47:10 GMT
If the party is from 5-7, that spans the entirety of the dinner hours, so people will expect to be fed. No one is going to want to be feeding their 6 year old dinner at 3:30 in the afternoon, nor are they going to want to feed their child dinner at 6:30/7:00 right after they have eaten cake and snacks. I would either come up with a different day when your husband can be there or I would choose a different activity. December is awfully crazy for most people, so there might be issues with people attending, but if those are your only two dates to choose from, I would do the December date.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Nov 10, 2014 0:12:24 GMT
I don't think this is a petty post!!
I think 6 year olds won't do well at a party 5-7 with out real food.
I would use the alternate date or switch the place.
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SabrinaP
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Post by SabrinaP on Nov 10, 2014 1:14:03 GMT
I wouldn't do 5-7 without serving food. I'd probably keep looking to see if I could find another venue or look into pizza or a sandwich tray for the party.
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Post by Miss Ang on Nov 10, 2014 1:16:11 GMT
If he really wants to have his party at the rock climbing place I would do it on the 23rd. December just doesn't work for most people. With the party being from 5-7pm you have to serve food. I would just order pizzas (maybe even have them delivered!) and have drinks and serve cake and ice cream after dinner.
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gina
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Post by gina on Nov 10, 2014 1:17:12 GMT
Like the others said, I wouldn't do 5-7 without serving food. Also, I probably wouldn't attend since that's getting kind of late on a Sunday when I like to have the weekend wrapped-up, kids showered, everything ready for Monday. etc. On previous threads though, I've openly admitted to not enjoying birthday parties so take that with a grain of salt.  |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 10, 2014 1:26:21 GMT
Another option would be to look into another venue. I don't want to have it here because I am scrapbooking the 21st and 22nd. I don't want to have to worry about the house getting/staying cleaned while I'm gone. I was looking at renting a gym that is close by but wasn't sure if that was a recipe for disaster. . I also don't know if it is available that day. My neighbors did this for their 5 yo DS's birthday and it worked out GREAT! They were going to have the party at their house outside and rent a bouncy castle, but the weather forecast wasn't cooperating with that plan so they rented out a gym area at a local community center that happened to have their own bouncy castle on site. The dad said that it was cheaper to rent out the gym AND the upstairs meeting room where they were able to serve tacos, beverages and cake than it was to just rent the bouncy castle at their house. It was nice for us as guests too because we didn't have to worry about the weather being rainy or nasty and the kids could all run around and have fun. ITA with others who have said that they would expect to be fed at a party from 5-7, especially a party for kids. |
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PaperAngel
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Post by PaperAngel on Nov 10, 2014 1:41:44 GMT
I suggest trying to schedule something different for next weekend or wait until 12/6 at 3-5pm for the rock climbing wall. My concern with 11/23 at 5-7pm is that you will not have many guests accept the invitation. The late time slot interferes with dinner. Plus, many people are not just preparing for school/work the next morning, but also to travel/cook/etc. for Thanksgiving the same week. HTH & happy early birthday to your little guy!
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kelly8875
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Post by kelly8875 on Nov 10, 2014 1:45:22 GMT
Go with what works best for YOUR schedule. If you want the 23rd at 5:00-7:00, do that. You should serve food...being the dinner hours and all. If you want to have it in December, have it then...I don't think December is too busy for everyone, and lets face it...What parent of that age wouldn't like a place to have their kid for a couple hours to do some secret shopping?!
My preference as a mother when my kids were that age though would to not have a birthday party to take them to on a Sunday night... If there is not school the next day, then no worries. But our kids have school the next day in our district.
Good luck, it sounds like a hard decision!
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Post by melanell on Nov 10, 2014 1:48:34 GMT
I really try to avoid mealtimes if I am not planning on serving a meal, so typically I would go with the 3-5 option, but I hate to choose a time when your DH cannot be there if there's a choice that does allow him to be there, kwim? But like was said earlier, I don't know what the turn-out will be for a kid party on a Sunday evening, especially with younger kids being the guests.  Ugh, I'm no help at all. I'm sorry.  |
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Post by maryland on Nov 10, 2014 3:08:43 GMT
I think the most important thing is to have it at a time your husband can go. I know I wouldn't want to have to miss my child's birthday party. What about serving pizza? When we had my daughter's parties, the girls devoured pizza! Could they deliver it to the wall (or the party area)? Sounds like a fun party! I wish they had something like that in our area for a party. My girls have been climbing since before they could walk!
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Post by Basket1lady on Nov 10, 2014 3:11:16 GMT
I would choose to have Dad at the party. If that means 5-7 on a Sunday night, so be it. Bring cupcakes, have pizza delivered.
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Post by 950nancy on Nov 10, 2014 3:16:09 GMT
If it is at a rock climbing place, the kids might not be into food that much. Perhaps a large sub sandwich cut up and chips with a drink is enough. Put it on the invitation so parents know and they can choose what to do.
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Post by freecharlie on Nov 10, 2014 3:21:47 GMT
5-7 you should serve food. Ds just went to a party tonight from 4-6 and we assumed there would be food...there was pizza.
December is busy, but most people could carve out 2 hours for a child's birthday party and if they cant? Oh well
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gsquaredmom
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Post by gsquaredmom on Nov 10, 2014 3:24:46 GMT
Is the previous week doable? Short notice but if a better time is available, it might work.
If you have pizza delivered, will they get it to the site?
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Post by bosoxbeth on Nov 10, 2014 3:24:48 GMT
I would find a place where you can bring in pizza or something. In my experience, a meal is pretty much an automatic at children's parties.
If you really, really can't serve a meal, definitely don't do it at a typical mealtime.
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Post by AussieMeg on Nov 10, 2014 3:41:29 GMT
At an 11-1 party or a 5-7 party I would expect a meal. If you don't want to do that have it from 3-5. I agree with this. |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Nov 10, 2014 3:48:47 GMT
I am not sure how much of a pain it would be to have pizza delivered. I will have to ask the people at the rock climbing place if that is possible and how close they would bring it. I will also call to ask about the gym. It is just a regular school gym that is in a building that is no longer used for the school. There is a room attached to have food and cake, etc. A friend had her sons party there a few years ago. It was only $20 to rent, which is nice.
DH doesn't have any other weekends off except maybe Dec. 7, but that is a Sunday again and the only time the rock climbing wall has parties on Sundays is 5:00.
I worry about people not accepting if the party is on Sunday at 5:00. The good thing is that not many other activities are going on then, but of course it is during dinner and on a school night.
I do like the idea of a large sub and chips for either party, though.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Nov 10, 2014 4:05:35 GMT
I'm not sure what your area's like, but the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving would be a total non-starter here. The kids have the entire week off, and most people will be traveling, or preparing for guests.
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Post by momof3pits on Nov 10, 2014 4:08:50 GMT
I would choose to have Dad at the party. If that means 5-7 on a Sunday night, so be it. Bring cupcakes, have pizza delivered. I agree with this. Easy to have pizza delivered right to you. Most important will be the memory of dad at his party. |
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Post by mrsscrapdiva on Nov 10, 2014 17:44:51 GMT
I just wanted to say your post isn't petty. My son will be 5 on the 23rd and he wanted party at the local Y. The only available time is 3-5 on Sunday the actual day of his Birthday. I am so used to doing earlier parties plus it gets dark out early. But I guess that is what we can do because they do not have any other openings until Dec. 21st. It's hard to know what the right thing is to do.
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amom23
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Post by amom23 on Nov 10, 2014 17:57:45 GMT
I vote having the party when it works best for you. You also know the other parents/kids. In my circle a Sunday late afternoon/evening party wouldn't be a deal breaker and everyone would come. Also, as far as food I think you should come up with something besides cake, but I know from experience 6 year olds tend to get too busy playing and aren't usually too interested in eating.
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peaname
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Post by peaname on Nov 10, 2014 18:03:08 GMT
Dec 6 3-5 cake served first
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Post by bc2ca on Nov 10, 2014 19:24:45 GMT
I would go ahead with the Nov 23rd party - closest to his birthday and DH there to participate. If the rock climbing place does a lot of Sun at 5 parties, ask them what people usually do for food.
Keep it super simple. Bring cake, plates, napkins, knife, candles, matches & drinks and have pizza delivered or bring subs/wraps. A cooler with wheels is worth the investment if you don't already have one.
Not all guests are going to make it, but most will and this will be true no matter what time you pick. For us, that Sun night is great because we have the whole week off school and it is far enough away from Thanksgiving that I'm not up to my eyeballs in dinner prep yet.
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blue tulip
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Post by blue tulip on Nov 10, 2014 19:31:53 GMT
i'd do the sunday one if you have to go there, but i would look into another venue honestly. i wouldn't be bringing my child to a party sunday night that ends at 7, it's just too late and after all that activity they're going to be tired and not able to sleep in the next day. my son has a december 21 birthday, and we've only had one party- and we did it in july, called it his half birthday party and it was awesome! so many more things you can do in MI in july vs. december lol. whenever we put out feelers for dec. parties, there were so many people that wouldn't be able to come that it wasn't worth it.
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. I also don't know if it is available that day. 
