Party Favors

     Bouncy bounce, science museum, children's museum, skating rink, swimming pool and bowling alley- it's been a year of birthday parties.  On a side note, I personally think the bouncy bounce was the most fun... for me.  There's nothing quite so silly as a bunch of friends jumping around a bounce house... and occasionally letting their children bounce around too.  On the other side of the spectrum... was the swimming pool.  A birthday party for a kid turning 4 at a swimming pool?  Huh?  And this was at a swimming pool with no real shallow end!  Not that I actually know this; Bill took Liam to that one.  Apparently Liam was wearing a swim vest so was feeling so bold as the hang out in the very deep end, where Bill couldn't touch either so he had to paddle around after Liam for 45 minutes.  Maybe Bill should have worn a swim vest too...  Although this might not be Bill's least favorite considering he's had to sit through the same silly movie about the Kabooby Ruby (really, I did not make that up) at the local planetarium twice since September.
     But seriously, the birthday parties are endless now that Liam has joined a preschool cohort.  There are birthday parties every weekend almost, between his classmates, our friends & family.  This weekend I asked Liam to please choose since he was invited to two birthdays- a bowling alley on Saturday and a skating rink today (Sunday).  He opted for the skating.  There are so many birthday parties that instead of having playdates among friends at his preschool, we've all just planned on meeting up at the next party. 
     On a positive note, it's just nothing but celebration after celebration... with a slew of screaming 3-5 year olds.  Birthday parties have been following a certain formula recently.  It seems we all meet up at a fabulous location and then hang out fairly independently of Liam's peers (i.e. skating with Mommy at the rink or bouncing from exhibit to exhibit shouting, "LOOK AT THE FISH!  LOOK AT THE OWL!  LISTEN TO ME RING THIS OBNOXIOUS BELL!", etc...).  After this, the mass of children sits down and eats pizza, some small pieces of fruit and pretzels.  Then there's the cake.  And then the children go crazy.  It's usually in a small room, clearly not meant for running, and yet this does not stop the children. They run in circles around the tables as though it was a planned activity.  They run until one parent actually stops their child loudly and then the other parents are guilted into telling their children to stop running around like maniacs.  And then everyone grabs a goodie bag and goes home.
     Celebrations aside, this whole birthday party thing has me a little concerned.  Liam & Joshua have birthdays coming up in March.  So far our birthday parties have followed a certain formula... parents chatting upstairs, mass hysteria downstairs with minimal supervision, craft activity, possible game, cheap pizza and cake with store-bought ice cream.  We enjoy some intimate traditions, like writing birthday notes to my kids on the same tablecloth each year and a cake I make following the given theme.  And all of this is made possible by having the party at our own house. Aren't we enough bells and whistles?  But this year I'm feeling like somethings may have to change.  I doubt our current house could accommodate 20 more kids and their parents.  And I doubt it would be enough anyway!  So do we have two parties- one for family & friends and the other for classmates?  Or do we have one big bash for everyone?  And if so, where?  It's been a few tough acts to follow one right after the other.  But really, that's not what I'm as worried about.  Maybe we'll go to the fire station and hire a magician... or better yet, rent the JCC gym so the kids running around like maniacs will be a planned activity.  No, my biggest concern is the presents.  See, we've been heading out the to store for each of these parties- for classmates, friends & family- buying this and that for all of these boys and girls.  So what I'm really concerned about is this... they're all just about ready to return the favor.  So then how many Etch-a-Sketches, Hungry Hungry Hippos and Mr. Potato Heads will we end up with?