It's all about the friends

By Robin P.

Lillianna's eighth birthday is fast approaching and we are in the process of planning her party. For the past two years, Lillianna has had a pizza-slumber party with a few of her friends in our 2-bedroom apartment. It's slightly cramped, but they are little girls so we seem to be able to fit a bunch of them in the living room without too much trouble, thank goodness.

I wasn't surprised to hear that Lillianna would like another slumber party this year. That's just fine with me. I love these slumber parties. The girls will arrive at 5 p.m. on a Friday night and after getting settled down, we will have pizza. For dessert, they will be able to frost two cupcakes by themselves: one to eat at the party and one to take home in a cellophane bag with their names on it. This was a big success last year; the kids took forever to get the frosting "just right" and they had so much fun. The reality is, every time I buy a half-sheet cake for her party, there is too much left over and it goes to waste.

After the sugar has been consumed (I have to get that out of the way early so that they will actually be ready to sleep at bedtime!) the girls will sing with Lillianna's karaoke machine. There may be some dress-up involved. Lillianna is hooked on "The Cheetah Girls" and may decide to sing in her pink leopard spotted sweater with fur collar. (Don't ask!)

When the singing is done, they will all get in their pajamas and settle down on their sleeping bags with some popcorn and two videos. By the time the second video is over, which is around 11 p.m.,the girls are all snuggled in their sleeping bags fast asleep.

Lillianna is always the first one awake in the morning, somewhere around 6:30am. Shortly after that, every girl is awake and giggling. They play until I serve them hot cinnamon rolls, cereal and milk. At 10 a.m. the girls try to gather up all their belongings so that they will be ready when their parents come to pick them up at 11. That's it. A simple but fun time for all of us.

In this day and age when extravagant parties seem to be the norm, I am so pleased that Lillianna enjoys an old fashioned type of birthday party. A few years ago, filled with guilt, I asked her if she minded having a party with just pizza and a sleep over. She wrinkled her brow and explained, "Mom, it's not about what we do. It's all about the friends!" I can't argue with that.

What is your favorite type of children's birthday party?

Robin P. lives with her husband and daughter in a suburb south of Boston.

Comments

[Jo]

My daughter adores the Cheetah Girls too. LOL. Next year I will send her to YOUR house and you can throw her a slumber party too. ;) I don't do too well with them because it's a bunch of female hormones and attitudes thrown around here and it's just an UGH kind of thing.

You're sounds like fun though. Next year invite me. I promise I'll bring my own wine. ;)

[Christina]

Robin -

This will be SmallBoy's first birthday party with friends - he turned nine yesterday. He wants a slumber party, so I told him he could have three friends. I'm kind of hoping fo the movie & Pizza thing, myself.

Girl, just about 13, has been having sleepovers with a million friends because she just can't decide who NOT to invite. They eat everything in the house, stay up all night giggling and playing pranks on each other. It's too much fun. I think she's been doing this since she was 6 or so.

Sleepovers are a little stressful, but at least the kids have time to have fun. I just make sure that I have a bottle of wine on hand if PC can't be home with me and, if he is, a bottle of wine for me and a six pack for him!