Party Time

On Saturday, we finally had Jane's eighth birthday party. She turned eight on October 11th, but this was the first Saturday that worked for her party. (Except for the Saturday I went to RHINEBECK and well, this was the first Saturday that worked for her party, if you know what I mean.)

Jane was a lee-tle excited. As in, she got up, put on a dress and party shoes and started asking, "WHEN IS MY PARTY??" until, I swear, I was willing to let her start the party before any guests had even arrived. "Here's the cake. I'm taking a nap." (Just kidding.)

So, early on, it was time for one of my favorite Cooper traditions. Coop gave Jane roses --because he wanted to be the first man to bring her flowers. (He did this for Ana, too, after my good friend Linda gave us the idea.) (It's a relatively new family tradition.) (And, um, it may have occurred on Saturday just after I'd been to the grocery store.) (But it's the memory he's making for the girls that counts.) (So, hush.)

I had made the cake (see part one and part two for the recipe and The Secret) the night before, but I still had to frost it. Jane wanted a Webkinz-themed party so here is my version of a Webkinz cake:

And then, deep sigh of sheer bliss, the house cleaners arrived. You know how I couldn't really define how I felt after our house in Austin finally sold and closed? Well, I was a little sad. But, dudes, the first call I made was to our incredible house cleaners and you can bet your sweet bippy that I put them on the payroll! YEEHAW! I can't afford to have them come every week but they are SO coming every two weeks. And I? Well, I think we can safely say that I am over my Selling Austin House Mope. (I love the house cleaners. I want to wear T-shirts proclaiming my love for them. I might have to bake them a cake. Seriously.)

They left three hours later. (Three. Hours. And you could have performed surgery on any surface of my house.) (Have I mentioned how I love them? You sure? I'm thinking about writing a poem.) I had just enough time to shower and change before the guests began arriving.

It was a smaller turn-out than expected, which was a little disappointing. I'm used to giving huge free-for-all kinds of parties. Luckily, I had hired my babysitter, who I found when she was a Counselor in Training at the kids' summer camp and she was ALL OVER keeping the kids moving, even when they went through my planned activities in record time. Jane opened her presents and one of the little girls said, "Oh, FINALLY!" because in New York, kids don't really open the presents at the party, even though the kids really like to see what the birthday kid got.

Then each girl received a goody bag: and the party was over.

I think at the NEXT party, we'll have a little better turn out because each goody-bag contained some chocolate and a Lil Kinz. (Dudes, I have to establish my reputation SOMEHOW!) The girls left saying, "This is the best party ever!"

I loved hearing that but you know what? I'm just getting started. Look out, New York!