Mondays

Boy oh boy! I really don't like Mondays!

I think it all went downhill after I started thinking about the kids' birthdays. That should be something that makes me happy when I think about it, but of course I let myself get stressed out as usual.

I started thinking about planning the birthday parties, specifically how much it would cost to plan a party for Andy, because Makayla has already said she wants her birthday party at "mum mum's" house. So that cost will be next to nothing- all we really need to do is buy the birthday cake and perhaps some pizza to feed us with. And that even depends on whether or not Josh's parents will be up there, or in Northville that weekend. It's only 3 or 4 weeks away.

Andy's birthday will be the more complicated one. We are not having 2 birthdays for each child, nor do I want to drive up north more than once. His birthday party will be down here, where we live, and where most of his family lives. Naturally, there will be more people attending his birthday party down here, simply because there is more family down here.

Josh and I WILL NOT, no matter if family pleads differently, we will not have a combined birthday party for the children. We both feel that it is important for each child to feel important and special on his/her birthday, and your birthday is a very special day that you do not have to share with ANYONE.

Anyway. I figure that Andy's dad will have a birthday party in which Andy's classmates will be invited to, so my thoughts are that we will limit his birthday party that we are giving him to family members only. Me and Josh (obviously), Makayla, Nana and Papa, Anthony, Roberta, Nikki, Chelsea, Great-Grandpa Jake, Mickey and Courtney and Alex, Aunt Sharon and Uncle Jack, David and Phyllis, Earl, Lynda, Connor, and Cory. and I suppose that would be it? If I had Brevin's phone number and/or address, I would send an invitation to him, but I'm sure that Andy's dad will already have Brevin invited to Andy's party at his dad's house.

The size of the party should not matter. Actually, the less money we spend on the actual party itself leaves more room for birthday gifts and cake.

Counting all those people I listed earlier already adds up to 21 people total.

Now, for location. Since it's going to be down here in our area, it would be nice to have a party at home, right? Wrong. The apartment is too tiny for 21 people. Actually, it would be too small for even 10-12 people.

My most logical idea would be to have the party at Chuck E. Cheese's, and do an "a la carte" type of thing. Bring in our own cake, tablecloths, and cake plates. Buy pizza and pitchers of pop for everyone. Buy a big thing of tokens and pass them out to the kids. And make small treat-bags from treasures found at the wonderful Dollar Store.

I know we could do an even smaller-scale thing. I could look into renting out the clubhouse at the apartments, and we could order a few party trays from Meijer. That would solve the space problem. The kids would still find a way to have fun. We could have bubbles and a couple of games. I really doubt that it would be warm enough outside to go swimming, but you never know. I suppose it would all depend on the cost of renting the "clubhouse" for a few hours. Actually, that might be a better idea and I am going to put a lot of thought into it.

If Josh's parents will be around when Makayla's birthday comes around, then we'll do something similar for her. Or, we'll go to Chuck E Cheese's. I know there's a way to have a good birthday party for each child without spending over $250.00 on the party alone.

Oh, by the way, Andy has requested a Transformers Birthday Cake. We think Makayla would like to have a Disney Princess Birthday Cake, but we'll have to ask her and she will tell us exactly what she wants.