Name: Brigsby (1)
Location: Riverview, FL
I'm not a fan of kid's parties. I don't like the prepackaged themes, the awkward sitting, the awkward small talk, or staring uncomfortably at the kid while they cry and open presents and the like. I don't like kid's parties. So we didn't have one.
Instead, we just had a party, plain and simple, like any other party we would have and enjoy. We played volleyball and corn hole. People swung in the hammock out under the sycamore grove. There were cake pops and polka dots, teal velvet, and endless bubbles. Corn dogs and popcorn and candy and chicken wings. Pizza rolls and giant pretzels, hot chocolate and frozen drinks (garnished with radish florets, virgin if you must).
There were handmade felt crowns and a bunny masked pinata. A velociraptor with a top hat and a cupcake. A photo booth that went forgotten, music and mayhem, hand painted balloons and metallic gold. Brigsby gave his best friend kisses and ate his giant cupcake, and there was no pressure for anyone to watch. We just had fun.
But as these things usually go, B spent his party coming down with a stomach virus, so throughout the day he cried. And he fussed. And for some of it, he was not happy. But when he was happy, I swear to god rainbow beams were shooting out of his face.
Thanks Jamie! Readers, see more of Brigsby's bash on Easily Dunn.
See also: Brigsby's Carnival Bedroom
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Sounds like a kids party (sans theme) to me.
kelleyalee, I thought the exact same thing.
Mmmm, not like most kid parties I'VE been part of. Most involved forced, planned out activities, and a "let's all sit and watch gifts get opened" etc, etc. Moments of true fun, spaced out between uncomfortable uncertainty over what we should be doing. This sounds like a blast, and my husband wants to steal the bad-ass theme for out little guy's next shin dig :)
Hummm... you must not have had any other kids at this party. I can't imagine allowing my kid saying/reading we're going to a "bad ass" party. But we're admittedly a little more prude than most. Glad you had fun though!
I think that a 1 year old party (especially if there aren't many other kids invited) would almost always involve fun, unstructured things for the adults who make up almost all of the guests. Sounds fun to me. But my guess is that by the time B is three or four there will be lots of 'traditional' kid party things going on, since he'll actually care about them more.
The best kids parties I've ever been to were hosted by friends of mine. Plenty of stuff for the kids (bouncy house, a visiting princess, bubbles...) but then adult music and food and lots of beer and wine. A good mix of kids and adults were invited which is also key... The kids crashed long before the adults - who sat around in the back yard having a good time late into the night. It was the combo of adult and kid party that made this one that dads never complained about attending. In fact, we looked forward to it every year... but they've since moved away (deployed military) so I guess it is our turn to try to recreate the fun.
Just thinking about my kindergartener who is learning to read. When Brigsby is her age looking back at his first birthday pictures, I guess you can always edit out the ones with the bad language.
Agree with TEXDOLL & NKENA=I don't think of kid's party when I heard the word "BADASS".
CLOTHESPIN: I guess I'm a prude too, but I don't agree with alcohol being served at a kids party. Really, you can't skip a day!?