Ballerina birthday party

I remember reading on a friend's blog that they do big "friend" parties for their kids when they turn 5, 8, 12, 16, and 18. I thought it was a great idea to celebrate these bigger milestone birthdays and so did Jeff. Not only does it save me the heartache of disappointing my kids every year for the next eon with my lack of party planning ability, but it might save us some $$$ in our bank accounts too. Not that they are any less spoiled because of it, but Jeff and I get to keep some of our sanity.

Well, the big "5" came. 

I asked Pearl for weeks what kind of party she wanted to have with her friends. She had a whole list of things she wanted to do. But then said, "I want an Angelina Ballerina birthday party." And she didn't change her mind.

I have to admit I tried talking her out of it. I am NOT a dancer! And Pearl hasn't taken dance lessons in over a year so it kind of came out of the blue. But she insisted she wanted a ballerina party. That's where Google (and Zurchers discount party store) comes in handy... to help the party planning and ballerina impaired moms like me.

Since her party was on a Saturday morning, right before lunch, I talked Pearl into letting me try making cake pops for the first time instead of cake and ice cream. I didn't want to load the kids up with sugar right before lunch. She also requested blueberry muffins and juice. Only Cole, Parker (one of Pearl's friend's little sister), and the adults ate the cake pops. Apparently the kids prefer the sugar rush to my "delicate" dance-themed foods. One little girl even asked me, "Do you have other food?"

We did the whole nine-yards with ballerina plates, napkins, cups, table cloths, party favors, balloons, and a Happy Birthday banner. Everything was pink, purple, and white. I was quite pleased with how the table turned out. 

When eight (plus two more later) little ballerinas arrived, they ran around the yard and bounced on the trampoline. We colored Angelina Ballerina pictures and played games like "Ballerina Ballerina turn around" (the song Teddy Bear Teddy Bear turn around but with ballet actions instead), "Ballerina Says" (basically Simon Says), musical chairs, ballerina races, and a ballerina slipper toss (which I made and painted purple myself). I made my brother, Jesse, climb in it to get pictures of the kids' throwing their ballet slippers. And as incentive for them to get the slippers through the holes!

Then it was on to present opening, reading an Angelina Ballerina book, and more playing on the trampoline and sandbox. Half of the kids played the games while the other half just ran around the yard. But they all seemed to have fun, so who cares, right? We only had a few tears shed because someone was mean to someone else and said she couldn't play with her new birthday toys. I guess too much excitement and anticipation had built up.

Those ballerinas - especially the new five-year-old one in the hot pink tutu - better have had fun because I was exhausted!