Week 4:This weekend I planned my daughter’s birthday at an indoor amusement park which was recommended by someone from my sister’s work. I looked at the website and the birthday packages and it all seemed pretty good. I filled out the reservation form online and it said you should expect a call within 24 hours to confirm the reservation and collect the deposit. Not receiving the phone call at all should have been the warning to select another venue. Not heeding this, I called Jeepers Amusement Paradise, made the reservation and gave them my credit card to charge the deposit. I also called a day in advance to confirm they had my pinata order and they would fill it with candy. Sounded easy enough, didn’t go through the normal due diligence of checking out the venue and speaking through the party coordinator in person prior to booking the party since this place was recommended to my sister.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
I planned to wake up early to make cupcakes for my daughter’s birthday party but ended up staying up too late so I woke up shortly after 9 am. Thankfully, by the time I woke up my older daughter already baked the cupcakes, I just needed for them to cool so I can frost them while they were at church. Thanks, Mariss! The picture above shows the finished cupcakes that we brought to the indoor amusement park.
12:45 pm
My kids get back from church with my parents and my daughter changed into her casual party clothes, then went next door to get her friends who were riding with us for to the party. My nephew’s friend arrived with him earlier so he had a buddy too. After my daughter’s BFF was dropped off, we all loaded into my sister’s SUV on the way to the party. My sister has a rule in her car called “Dance Car” so during one particularly long song, we kicked off dance car and everyone had to do their seated dance moves, this was a great ice breaker for all the kids. We “danced” to Miley Cyrus’ song and I got some video of that which I will upload to Facebook.
1:20 pm
We arrived at the venue a little before our party time and it seems they don’t have a record of our party at all. I requested the ride wristbands for the kids then got them off to ride the rides and play while I sorted out the situation. While waiting for the table to get setup, my sister and I ordered the pizzas for the party. We ended up hosting our party getting the kids rounded up to eat, do the cupcake, ice cream, and finally the pinata. We let the kids loose after doing the pinata to go spend their tokens and ride the rides again. Despite, the snafu with the party details, the kids had a blast! I’m so glad my parents, my sister, and my older daughter were there to help keep track of the kids because the security at the place was pretty lax. I think my head was spinning the entire time from all the noise, kids running around, and trying to make sure we knew where all the kids in our party were.
4:30 pm
We arrived back at the house, Giovana opened her presents, then went with my mom to drop off her BFF. I was exhausted and wanted to go back to sleep but my mom invited the kids next door to swim. My mom stayed out there with the kids at the pool, I think I fell asleep in the patio for a little bit. I’m a bit out of practice on the kids parties.
What are your thoughts?