Ideas for Birthday Parties

March 4, 2013

Fine, they’ve been more than slightly over the top.

But this year, I’m stumped.

I’d hoped after last year’s Jedi party complete with Chewbacca, Darth Vadar, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Jedi training camp, we could do something simpler this year. Something that didn’t have me up until the wee hours of the morning sewing Jedi robes.

Something like a camping themed party with a few close friends sleeping over in a tent in the back yard. I envisioned S’mores on a stick, hot dogs, head lamps, giggling little boys, and less work for Mama.

I broached the topic with Joseph and he said, “Yeah. I think that’s a great idea. It can be a Minecraft Camping Party.”

I hemmed and hawed and said something about needing to pick a single theme while my stomach sank.

Minecraft?

I have no clue as to what to do for Minecraft. I have yet to download it. Unlike Plants vs. Zombies, Angry Birds, Legos, Star Wars, or even hiking, I know nothing more than the fact that the Don’t Mine at Night parody of Katy Perry’s Friday Night gets stuck in my head and won’t leave.

I went to Pinterest and did a search.

Of course there were loads of ideas.

Loads of very extensive, very complicated, very stay up until the wee hours ideas.

I have six weeks. I think I need to figure out how to sell this camping idea. Or maybe a pizza party . . .

Do you go overboard with your kids’ birthdays?

Mandy Dawson is the creator of In Mandyland, an almost daily blog recording her adventures in juggling a full-time job, two active children, four arguing hens, a fluffy bunny, and one ex-husband. A self-diagnosed gardening and crafting addict, she often finds herself gluing together clay pots and trying to discover the cure for brown thumb. When she’s not writing, she can be found burning dinners while she stares off into space with a story idea. She was a regular contributor for Makes Fun of Stuff, Aiming Low, and Six Kitchens, and has been featured on BlogHer and Mamapedia. She is an Assistant Editor for Write on Edge and has had her fiction featured in three anthologies currently available on Amazon.