I completely admit that as a parent I do overcompensate. My daughter is spoiled. Not completely rotten but to the a little smelly but still good stage, as spoiling goes. She's usually a pretty good girl. We have those hormonal moments all little girls have where you wonder who's side of the family that nasty little behavior comes from with appalling knowledge that it is most likely yours, but otherwise she's pretty sweet and lovable.
I also admit that I was a bit pampered as I got older. As a young child, we were poor. Really poor. My daddy was sick alot, my mom worked at Sears, my uncle paid our electric and heat (stole it from our mailbox) and my dad's life insurance (just in case), so my mom could make ends meet. For my fifth birthday and my brother's 3rd (we are 2 years and 6 days apart) my mother threw us a party in our small apartment. We each were allowed to invite one guest only. It was all she could afford. I always wanted a pony and a clown but we never had the money when I was still little enough to really appreciate it. Later when my father's health improved and our financial status with it, he made it up to my brother and I with lavish summer vacations to Florida and Disney World when it opened and the beach. But that little girl fantasy of big birthday party with a pony and a clown never went away.
So, when Hannah said she wanted a carnival birthday party I was psyched. She wanted carnival games and prizes and cotton candy. The works. So I set about it. At first, it seemed like a fun and fairly simple enterprise. But those who know and love me, also know that I can make simple look like rocket science without any difficulty at all.
First, we had the games. I designed and had poor hubby make carnival games from plywood, dowels, and other various and sundried craft supplies. We made a "Wheel of Fortune". It was a great plan, but it didn't spin evenly, it wobbled, it needed multiple corrections and adjustments before it was just right. Then there was the "Tic Tac Toe" Game. I got three small dodge balls and a 2 big peices of foam board. The plan was simple. Make a big square tic tac toe board with holes in the centers of each square big enough to hold the little balls when rolled on it. Then make sides so the balls don't roll off. Simple, well yes and no. So again many adjustments later we had a winner. Then there were the little duckies with party hats we ordered from Oriental Trading Personally, I love this site and usually everything I order is great. The little toys and games for birthday parties rock. So when I saw these cute little duckies with party hats and for a great price I scoffed them up. They'd be perfect for the duck pond...or not. First of all, they were literally 1" in size. Secondly, cute little hats made the little guys float upside down, not condusive to Duck Pond action. Numbers need to be on the bottom. So here I am morning of the party rubber banding nickles (pennies were too light) to the bottom of the duckies to keep them from being top heavy but so they didn't sink. Yes, it was fun to watch. We also had a Lollipop Tree-- Pick a Pop and win a prize. A Bean Bag Toss and A Ring Toss and A Fishing Game rounded out the action. We had loads of stuffed animals, puzzles, and blow up toys as carnival prizes and each kid got their own Giant Goodie Bag (Large Gift Bags from the Dollar Store).
Thank God for the God Squad (Gary's Church Friends). They supplied the much needed manpower to help run all the activities. In addition to games, we had a cotton candy stand, face painting (Gary's station), Creative Station where they painted little plaster of paris figurines to take home (they all started there while we set up), Pony ride, and a Clown.
I also made hot dogs and they had popcorn and juice. I was lucky enough to find these cool circus animal shaped sippy cups. One clear animal shapes with wide lids and tails that were straws that were rather big and easily filled with popcorn and the other narrow bright colored plastic animals with straws at the top which we filled with juice. Both were in a clearance bin for 10 cents each. A Baaaarrrgain. Oh yessirree bub!!! I love stuff like that.
Lastly, there was the cake which I lamented about earlier and is pictured above with the birthday girl. Despite all the hard work, the party was a blast and went off without a hitch. That said, next year I think we may go bowling.
