One ring to rule them all,
One ring to find them,
One ring to bring them all,
and in the darkness bind them.
And then the screams of the nine rang forth.
And even the faceless Nazgûl, cowered in fear.
We hosted a small party with friends of Smallsteps' for a couple hours tonight to mark her birthday. A few couldn't make it due to other engagements, but most arrived in pretty dresses and carrying gift bags. They all looked so sweet as they came in one by one and handed over their gifts.
And then they turned.
Our house is normally a pretty serene place, with muted colours and whites, soft music playing, sometimes some candles flickering on the table. But tonight, it was filled with the bloodcurdling screams of 9 happy girls who were hopped up on far too much sugar.
We put together an "ice cream buffet" with a couple different ice cream flavours, and then bowls of different sweets and toppings that they could choose themselves, as well as a few biscuits and chips. Thankfully, the weather was good and the first "proper" party on the terrace went to Smallsteps and her friends. It was kind of funny watching them there eating ice cream and drinking juice. Because I am pretty sure a few of the same girls in the not too distant future will be sitting in the same places drinking cheap alcohol as teens, while the parents are not home.
Hopefully not too soon though.
And after "dinner", there was the customary opening of gifts and I am glad to say that Smallsteps always reads the cards first. There were some pretty cool self-made cards, and pretty much everyone had a mouse of some kind on it - or a puppy.
But once that was out of the way, we had the girls sit around the dining table making bracelets out of a million plastic beads that Smallsteps has got or inherited from friends and family over the years. Last time we had them making Lego in pairs and it was super successful, and this was just as good. The only issue we had was my wife couldn't tie the knots in them, and I struggled with my sausage fingers to get them done.
But as you can see from Smallsteps' face - it was fun.
We have known nearly all of these girls for several years, with one of them her best friend from day care, when they were two or three years of age. There was also one friend from the new school, which was really nice. However, there is a massive difference in their personalities and it is quite an eclectic group of people, with some being very childish, others more mature, some creative and serious, others unable to focus and noisy. I could just watch them and thought I could see what kinds of people they would grow into, based on my own experiences in social groups.
We did a kind of gift bag, but there wasn't much in there other than a balloon, a glowstick bracelet and a lollipop. However, instead of handing it to them, we had them "fish" over a barrier I made with a stick and a line with a bucket attached to it.
I was the fish.
Which means I had to speak Finnish to them, which is not my strong suit, so I made a big show of it, asking them to speak Fish instead, getting their names wrong, adding in silly fish sounds and the like. They had fun, but I suspect that I won't be invited to perform at too many more of her birthdays.
It was a nice evening and as the parents came to pick their kids, or they rode off on their bikes and the trampoline stood still and serenity returned - My wife said,
Next year, we can have it somewhere else.
Taraz
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Ah, bracelets seem to be in again huh? We were babysitting last night and one of our friends daughters brought her beads and spent the time making bracelets. How has her first week at the new school been going?
Seems so. Smallsteps has about 20 different sets of them, but hasn't used them much. This was a good way to "burn" some beads :) Did you make a bracelet too?
She has enjoyed it. Feels confident getting there and back by herself, made some friends, and the classes are far calmer and students more focused so far. A better environment for her to learn.
That's great to hear about the school thing. I am glad she was able to find a place where she is comfortable. No, I didn't make a bracelet, but I thought sure she was going to give one to me. I guess I am not cool enough anymore.
LOL! And you know what having a 12 year old girl party evokes the same feelings of having it somewhere else next time :) There were girls between 11 and 14 years old at our daughters party and I had to hide upstairs in my office for part of the party where they had a lady come out and do a Spa in our living room... There was so much screaming and shouting I think I had ringing in my ears the rest of the day LOL.
I wasn't allowed! I always have the excuse of "I can't speak to them" to get out of some things :)
This sounds great for that age. Did they enjoy it?
Surprisingly they really enjoyed it. Though I was not there for that part as it would be weird, so my wife managed that part. But I could hear all the excitement and they played music which was drowned out by all the fun they were having.
That sounds like a huge load of fun for them! I hope they didn't leave too much of a disaster. And thanks for the ideas on how to keep them occupied in a good way!
Until now, I never got to organize a real birthday for Lily. Her mom claimed those for herself, so I always turned my own birthday (which is one month before Lily's) into a children's birthday. She loved that. It was usually just and inflatable castle, set at a friend's house who has a garden.
Lily's mom is moving closer this year. Maybe next year I can finally do a party for Lily, probably in the new cafeteria space. It's perfect for those things.
Not at all. If they were nine boys though...
That sounds great! They don't do the castle at home here as far as I know, but kids love them!
Sounds like you are looking forward to having more opportunities to create events with Lily. Sounds great :)
Yes, those castles are always a blast. 40$/h for a huuuuge one that easily fits all her friends (no parents though, not allowed 😭), and they always make a deal like 90$/3h, and then stay longer to overcompensate that they arrived late 🤣
And yes, I'm looking forward to it. I'm a bit nervous to have her mom closer again, but our relationship has improved, and I hope that she'll agree to do parent counseling with me every month.
If they're underage drinking at 17 or so it's "probably" fine (middle child asked if she could drink with some friends at a pary when she was 17 and I okayed it coz honestly I started then x_x so youngest tried his luck this year and I told him next year). If they're any younger well I know some parents give permission but that was not something I was terribly comfortable with x_x as long as they're not getting blind!
You never know, the fish thing could be a big hit and they would forgive a fish for being unable to speak Finnish because it is a fish after all XD
Sounds like a good party :)
17? I hope that is the case (but I started pretty early -However, the first time I was actually drunk was at 16).
My wife barely drinks and I am a very responsible drinker, but we have never hidden it from Smallsteps. She has never seen us even tipsy, because we so rarely drink like that, but we can have some wine with dinner occasionally, or with friends. Hopefully, not making it "special" means she won't get too excited about it later.
They laughed at the "blub blub" sounds at least :D
I think for a lot of kids that sneak drinks it's more because they're "not allowed" so they feel ever so cool and rebellious.
I remember being pre-teen and me and one of my friends were absolutely not under any circumstances allowed to swear ever for any reason, so of course whenever we were hooning around on our bikes we were going out of our way to make every second word a cuss because we were so terribly cool like that XD
You must have done a great impression then, I mean fish say blub right XD
What does the fox say? :D
Well I think it's fair to allow 9 happy girls to disrupt the peace and calm of your home just to give Smallsteps the happiness she deserves on her birthday. Parents often put up with lots of inconveniences for the good of their kids, so there might be a repeat despite your wife's complaints. The pleasant memories will no doubt stick with Smallsteps for a long time.
Yeah, it was a bit of fun. I don't mind having the noise here for a few hours, and the clean-up was pretty easy. It takes a bit to organise though and isn't cheaper than just having it at some other play centre. I was thinking of maybe at a swimming pool next time.
hauaha
I'm sure smallsteps loved it
She did indeed. A bit tired afterward!
Soounds like a perfect party for nine year old girls. Smallsteps looks so happy!
She does, doesn't she? It was good to see her beaming.
That's a super cute activity. Kids love making bangles and bracelets, world wide! Funny. I wonder what the driver is...pretty things? A magpie gene?
Magpie jean makes sense. My wonder is what genetically makes girls want to have a thousand little useless boxes that nothing fits in?
Omg don't get me started on the joy of boxes....🤣
Lol 😂 The last statement got me laughing.
This is one of the beauty of parenting, putting smiles on the faces of our kids and providing all they need.
These are one of those moments she would forever cherish 🥰. Well done daddy 👍
I think they all had a good time and hopefully, Smallsteps remembers these days.
It's clear Smallsteps had a lot of fun. Even in his old age, he'll remember these beautiful moments and rejoice. The good things of childhood, and of course, the bad moments, are never forgotten. Your wife looks at your daughter with pride. Happy birthday.
We are a species that remembers the extremes, and pain is a great teacher. Hopefully, she remembers soe of the good too though!
I can imagine what you went through that day :) When two boys came to visit my son, he was 8-9 years old at the time, I had never heard such a loud noise, our walls were shaking :)
Boys would be far, far worse. I would send them to the park :D
Hi @tarazkp the kids surely had a great time, sometimes we adult needs those little steps with their over pouring screams of happiness and laughter.
This line really got me laughing so hard that my daughter told me, "shhh, mum you're making a noise."
"our house is normally a pretty serene place, with muted colours and whites, soft music playing, sometimes some candles flickering on the table. But tonight, it was filled with the bloodcurdling screams of 9 happy girls who were hopped up on far too much sugar."
This is really a fun read. My warm regards.
Glad you enjoyed it. Kids parties are fun, as it doesn't take much for them to have a good time.
You can say that again.
Sounds like a wonderfully chaotic and joy-filled birthday! 🍦🎉 The ice cream buffet and bead-making sound like such fun ideas, and your “fish” role had me smiling. These are the moments the kids and you will remember for years.
They don't need too much to have a good time. Some sugar, and something to do.
The birthday is really going to be a memorable for smallsteps and for sure everyone who came to celebrate with her will enjoy every part of the birthday.
Yeah, I think she liked it.
Small steps had a lot of fun
I think so.
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STOPearly birthdays are nice. At some point for me birthday became just an excuse to eat cake. And my mother's and our favorite neigbour's birhdays just make me worry because they both them are getting older. My mother is 66 and our neigbour is even older. My dad died before he could turn 60. So each passing year makes me a bit sad and scared.