multimom4
October 24th 03, 02:03 AM
Thanks to everyone who replied to my posts about the party and the boys'
gifts. I read and mulled over everyone's thoughts ... this is what we did:
We had 17 6-7 year olds, Holly and one Uninvited Younger Sibling of one of
the guests (he might have been 2.5 or 3 years old, I didn't ask). I was
Amazed at her cheek -- she dropped off both boys and disappeared without a
word before I realized what she was doing. About half an hour later, she
was back shepherding them to a bathroom to change into costumes. So I
thought Fair Enough, she forgot the invitee's costume and just left the
little one here while she ran home for it ... but NO!! She costumed both
boys and then SHE left again without a word, leaving both of them
here!!!!!!!!! I was embarrassed as there was another mother there who had
asked to bring her younger child and I had refused because of how many kids
we had invited. I didn't say anything to her but I assume she noticed .....
Anyway. To make it more manageable, we divided the kids into boy and girl
groups for the first two games. As they arrived we did crafts (make a mask
and sticker pictures). Very Unexpectedly, the weather had suddenly cleared
up that morning and cooperated for the party so when everyone was here we
did basketball outside (everyone shoots, the successful move back a bit and
shoot again, etc til there's a winner). We also did "Cleopatra Says" (I was
Cleo) indoors with Halloween themes (flap your wings like a bat; pretend to
be Superman; howl like a ghost). Winners got to pick a goody from the black
Halloween decorated bag (who said I have no crafts talent? :-). Those were
the divided games. Then we all joined up and did musical chairs. Then the
store-bought Disgusting Black Spider cake (with 6 legs ...) got cut and
served along with spider frosted cupcakes by me (who said I can't find my
way round a kitchen? :-). Then a last circle game (Pass the Parcel) and off
home. It ran a bit long, as I knew it would, but at least we kept them
busy.
How LOUD 8 (+ 1 small one -- grr) 6-7 yr old boys can be.
Pet Peeve (apart from that small boy ... who actually was no trouble at all
and stuck near his brother, but it's the PRINCIPLE): I had asked for some
parents to stay and help ... I had 8 people in the house and NOT ONE lifted
a finger except me, dh and the babysitter. I could have *spat* except I was
too hot and out of breath to have energy or time. Not that I expected them
to do much, but when their own children were being a pain and they didn't
even speak to them ... I have since been told by three people that this is
typical of parents at kid parties. I guess I never saw it before because
usually we have multiples around and the parents know better than to try to
shirk their duties!
All in all, it went wonderfully, but never again -- I got no sleep the last
4 nights before or the night after and now am sick, of course.
Boy Presents --
We take them out a lot anyway and as Shirley said I didn't think tickets to
something would be appreciated yet ... so this is what we ended up with
(mostly stuff they had requested and I tracked down in long all-night online
last-minute buying sessions -- some of it being stuff I bought on behalf of
other family members, btw):
GI Joe figures
Batmobile to replace the Christmas one that he broke on Christmas Day
DK book about Batman
DK book about the origins of the XMen
Batman and Superman pjs -- with capes
Max Steel figure (not sure if this is known in USA -- they had seen him at
the home of a family from New Zealand; he's kind of like GI Joe)
Mini Superhero vehicles/figures -- another non-American theme, Thunderbirds
Light-up tracing desk for making pictures
For Christmas (more or less DONE!!) we have (also not all from us):
Scooters
Castle with Robin Hood figures -- they love the movie
Star Theater (projects a varying night sky on the ceiling with CD to provide
info)
Max Steel's boat
Buzz (yes, to replace another broken toy)
Peter Pan figure
Indoor basketball set -- hangs over a door
GI Joe jeep or similar (the one thing left to buy)
Spiderman pjs (x2)
The basketball, star theater and scooters will double up to share and
include Hanna also (she is getting a cabinet and a mobile for her room, a
nightie with cats on it, a Disney Cinderella playset, rag doll, .... and
about 50 other things if she gets her way).
Hope this may be of assistance to anyone looking in approx. this age range.
Thanks again --
--Janet
Elliot, Hanna, Connor (10/21/96)
and Holly (4/4/01)
gifts. I read and mulled over everyone's thoughts ... this is what we did:
We had 17 6-7 year olds, Holly and one Uninvited Younger Sibling of one of
the guests (he might have been 2.5 or 3 years old, I didn't ask). I was
Amazed at her cheek -- she dropped off both boys and disappeared without a
word before I realized what she was doing. About half an hour later, she
was back shepherding them to a bathroom to change into costumes. So I
thought Fair Enough, she forgot the invitee's costume and just left the
little one here while she ran home for it ... but NO!! She costumed both
boys and then SHE left again without a word, leaving both of them
here!!!!!!!!! I was embarrassed as there was another mother there who had
asked to bring her younger child and I had refused because of how many kids
we had invited. I didn't say anything to her but I assume she noticed .....
Anyway. To make it more manageable, we divided the kids into boy and girl
groups for the first two games. As they arrived we did crafts (make a mask
and sticker pictures). Very Unexpectedly, the weather had suddenly cleared
up that morning and cooperated for the party so when everyone was here we
did basketball outside (everyone shoots, the successful move back a bit and
shoot again, etc til there's a winner). We also did "Cleopatra Says" (I was
Cleo) indoors with Halloween themes (flap your wings like a bat; pretend to
be Superman; howl like a ghost). Winners got to pick a goody from the black
Halloween decorated bag (who said I have no crafts talent? :-). Those were
the divided games. Then we all joined up and did musical chairs. Then the
store-bought Disgusting Black Spider cake (with 6 legs ...) got cut and
served along with spider frosted cupcakes by me (who said I can't find my
way round a kitchen? :-). Then a last circle game (Pass the Parcel) and off
home. It ran a bit long, as I knew it would, but at least we kept them
busy.
How LOUD 8 (+ 1 small one -- grr) 6-7 yr old boys can be.
Pet Peeve (apart from that small boy ... who actually was no trouble at all
and stuck near his brother, but it's the PRINCIPLE): I had asked for some
parents to stay and help ... I had 8 people in the house and NOT ONE lifted
a finger except me, dh and the babysitter. I could have *spat* except I was
too hot and out of breath to have energy or time. Not that I expected them
to do much, but when their own children were being a pain and they didn't
even speak to them ... I have since been told by three people that this is
typical of parents at kid parties. I guess I never saw it before because
usually we have multiples around and the parents know better than to try to
shirk their duties!
All in all, it went wonderfully, but never again -- I got no sleep the last
4 nights before or the night after and now am sick, of course.
Boy Presents --
We take them out a lot anyway and as Shirley said I didn't think tickets to
something would be appreciated yet ... so this is what we ended up with
(mostly stuff they had requested and I tracked down in long all-night online
last-minute buying sessions -- some of it being stuff I bought on behalf of
other family members, btw):
GI Joe figures
Batmobile to replace the Christmas one that he broke on Christmas Day
DK book about Batman
DK book about the origins of the XMen
Batman and Superman pjs -- with capes
Max Steel figure (not sure if this is known in USA -- they had seen him at
the home of a family from New Zealand; he's kind of like GI Joe)
Mini Superhero vehicles/figures -- another non-American theme, Thunderbirds
Light-up tracing desk for making pictures
For Christmas (more or less DONE!!) we have (also not all from us):
Scooters
Castle with Robin Hood figures -- they love the movie
Star Theater (projects a varying night sky on the ceiling with CD to provide
info)
Max Steel's boat
Buzz (yes, to replace another broken toy)
Peter Pan figure
Indoor basketball set -- hangs over a door
GI Joe jeep or similar (the one thing left to buy)
Spiderman pjs (x2)
The basketball, star theater and scooters will double up to share and
include Hanna also (she is getting a cabinet and a mobile for her room, a
nightie with cats on it, a Disney Cinderella playset, rag doll, .... and
about 50 other things if she gets her way).
Hope this may be of assistance to anyone looking in approx. this age range.
Thanks again --
--Janet
Elliot, Hanna, Connor (10/21/96)
and Holly (4/4/01)