Birthday Party- commercial free is hard work!

I admit I was a bit ambitious in creating this party for Piper.
1. It was during the week so I was on my own in terms of David helping out
2. I was determined to not be commercial
Realizing I wouldn't be able to safely look after that many kids I had to cancel half of them- due to a thunderstorm primarily.

So the idea was to create a nature diary and provide tools to collect/draw/observe nature. From my Nature Book I have on my book list- I decided we would make worm farms- so the girls collected 35 worms from my neighbours compost. I bought mason jars and I already had new soil, mulch and sand. That would be an activity plus a loot bag item. Then I bought eco journals from Staples, pencils, mini containers, envelopes,post its, string etc. and photocopied a class photo and cut out each child's face to glue on to cover of book. I also printed out pages from a great website in the UK called Nature Detectives and glued a nature activity in each book that we would do on our Ravine walk. Then I planned  for them to roll out their own pizza dough and add toppings and end with swimming.

Result: Well, that is why there are only photos of the night before and a photo of when they were leaving- CRAZY!!!!!! Nature crafts went well except for three of them tearing around the house including my own daughter. One mom offered to stay for ravine walk - probably terrified for safety of her child. Her older son also stayed who was a great help- that had been planned.

Worm farm was interesting because the only two kids that would touch the worms were my daughter and the only other girl at the party. The ravine was fantastic with the nature activities such as follow a mini-beast trail, blindfolded in nature, collecting leaves for a sundial etc. Making their own pizzas- not a chance- I sent them to the basement for safety reason so they wouldn't jump in pool and I could make lunch. By this time a gr.6 student arrived to help lifeguard swim session.
So pizza in oven, kids were able to go swimming but many did not know how to swim- no problem- three lifeguards and one small freezing pool. However, my eye was on one boy who seemed to not understand where the deep end was- I was on high alert watching him, saw him veer to the deep end, told him to get closer to the ladder- too late, he slipped, I went in- clothes and all. He didn't get a chance to swallow a drop of water. Okay so moving on, pizza time- I didn't make enough- next cake- next presents, next ... finally they settled and there was a wonderful calmness and great play. Half of them played basketball in driveway with the gr.6 girl, the other half played with knights in the living room. I sighed... this was nice- calm, happy children, I could have had another hour - oh well, parents came- thank you- goodbye- I lasted 4 hours with no casualties but for the next 2 hours I lay on the couch while a sympathetic friend/mom tidied up my kitchen and Theo  cleaned the basement. I survived, it was good, honest!

Comments

[Mo]

Yes, birthday parties are exhausting! So glad that is all behind me.

Mind you, we had a grad party for Meghan the same day Ashley had her call to The Bar ( seems like it needs caps...) and that was exhausting too, just in a different way. I ended up at the grill by myself under an umbrella in an absolute downpour while everyone else retreated to the house. They tell me it was a great party.....

What I want to know is how you got a kid to help with the cleanup????? Torture? Bribes? LOL!

Mo

[sue]

I just read about Piper's party- inspirational! Maybe we will reprise the worm farm for cousin's camp. Sounds like the best fun. Sue