A Familiar Path

How to plan a winter birthday ~ guest post

January 18, 2012 by Melissa Filed Under: guest post

I have a daughter with a birthday in January and I always struggle with how to plan her party. Teresa from Mommy Stuff has some great advice for anyone planning a winter birthday party and we’re in luck, she’s offered her advice here today!

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If you are planning a winter birthday party for your child, there are really two approaches you can take: embrace the cold weather or don’t. In other words, just because your party is being held during the wintertime doesn’t mean that you have to make it winter-themed. In fact, most summer activities can be done just as well in January as they are in June, albeit in a slightly modified form.

No matter which type of party you choose, here are a few ideas to get you going:

Ideas for Embracing the Cold

Take the party to the slopes: skiing, snowboarding, or sledding are all good ideas.
Invest in winter-themed decorations and birthday invitations.
Reserve your local ice skating rink for a few hours.
Have a snowball fight. Be sure have a prize in mind for the winners.
Have a snow art contest. For example, which team can build the best snowman in the least amount of time?
Plan your menu with cold weather in mind. Serve hot foods and warm drinks like apple cider.
Play hockey.
Go to the zoo—it’s often less crowded during the winter and many of the animals behave differently at different times of year.

Ideas for Summer-izing Your Winter Party

Have a wintertime pool party—look around for local indoor pools, and keep in mind that you can often reserve pools at nearby hotels.
Host a winter luau.
Take the kids to a fun center, like a local go-kart track or gymnastics center.
Hold a pre-summer beach party—play volleyball, crank the beach tunes, and invite the guests to wear their favorite summertime clothes.
Plan a backyard barbeque.
Go south of the border with a Mexican-themed party.

Tips to Keep in Mind

If you are planning a winter birthday party with any of these ideas, be sure to let your guests know what type of party it is in advance either via the birthday invitations or a phone call. This is essential so they can plan to wear the appropriate attire and bring any gear necessary.

When planning a party, it’s always best to be a little over-prepared. Buy more food and drinks than you think you will need and have a backup plan for your party if it is being held outside in case the weather turns sour. Be sure to thank the guests (and their parents, of course) and send thank-you cards for any gifts you may receive.

Most importantly, have fun, and be sure to enjoy your wintertime party!

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4 x 4

January 17, 2012 by Melissa Filed Under: daily life, pets

Sunday afternoon we went for a drive. Well, let me back up a little. Friday evening we babysat for my friend. We babysat this adorable puppy and I admitted on Instagram that it made me want another one.

I had no idea that it would also make my husband want another one. Between Friday evening and Sunday he had arranged for us to pick up the sister to my friend’s pup.

We now have four dogs and four kids.

Three female dogs, three female children, one male dog, and one male child. Hmmm. We didn’t plan it that way.

And this last puppy is in as sad a state as my last child was. We are struggling to find a name that we all like.

But we are enjoying her so much.

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Blackbird day

January 12, 2012 by Melissa Filed Under: confessions, daily life

Sing a Song of Sixpence is one of my most favorite nursery rhymes and I never fail to recite it that day in winter when blackbirds cover our trees and lawn. I love blackbird day! Of course it’s a holiday I entirely made up myself. I prefer celebrating made up holidays than the real ones. I’m a rebel like that.

Some people don’t like the blackbirds, but I like their noise, their amazing coordinated flights, the sheer number of them. It’s a marvelous thing, and thankfully a temporary thing.

They will spend a day or two here then move on to another yard.

I watched the Republican debate this weekend and it was the first I’d seen. I’d heard a few of the candidate’s names and maybe saw a few faces in passing, but I rarely watch the news so I didn’t recognize who was who during the debate. I believe they should be required to wear name tags.

I have to tell you I’m completely underwhelmed by our choices. Where is our leader? Are we failing to raise men with integrity. Men who can lead our country? In our history lesson yesterday we read about Calvin Coolidge. He assumed the office of the president after Harding died. He was frugal and conservative, a nongambling, nondrinking, churchgoing president during the Roaring Twenties. He reduced the national debt by a billion dollars. He did not favor bail-outs. He cut taxes. He won with the slogan “Keep cool with Coolidge” for a second term at a time when I doubt the word “cool” was overused.

Although he never participated in a Republican debate live on television, I have to wonder if he would have been the type to attack and slander fellow candidates? That kind of turns me off.

I have officially launched into one of my New Year’s Goals. I have starting painting the house. One room is completely done. Progress is a wonderful thing.

My friend Marsha may be having her baby today. Or tomorrow. In Guam the time is all messed up. I’m so excited for her.

What New Year goals have you tackled?