We have this thing about birthday parties.
Not to be party poopers, but we hate them really try not to get so caught up in the picture perfect pinterest mania crazies of it all. LAW the pressure. When I was younger, we had a slumber party, pizza and light as a feather, stiff as a board. And no one had social media. We were good. Friends and fun were all we needed.
Sometimes, we’re lucky enough to bribe them into an experience with the family and skip the whole party thing altogether. And sometimes… {in case you missed it on instagram this weekend} …
That gig where you pay someone to do everything for you {see: chuck-e-cheese} looks re-heally appealing.
We try to keep it simple. We want to celebrate them, and that’s it.
But even with simple, everyone knows that if you DIY anything, you just end up questioning your sanity and the entire purpose of your life. Sometimes, I enjoy it. Sometimes.
Ahhh, finding that magical balance that is birthday parties. It’s like a rite of passage for parents.
And then you realize you’ve completely lost all self control when you order those giant balloons off of Amazon, and your husband takes them to the party store to get them filled, and he asks over the phone how large you want them and you say, “All the way, suckas!” Not realizing you’ve a. just spent your children’s entire college fund on helium and b. that he now has to make two trips just to get all. of. the. balloons. back home because you severely underestimated the grand finale of it’s size. And you almost break up. Right before your anniversary. Over balloons.
I should have known better, but I got caught up in the omgahgottahavetheballooooooooons moment. I mean, it’s not every day that you get giant balloons. {See??? I’m doing it.}
In other news, the boys were absolutely beside themselves, so there’s that. I count it as a win. Never mind that they were the size of a small earth if I’d tied them to Malone, he would have ended up in Australia. Never mind that one of them popped in Jamin’s ear whilst driving so that there was a small sonic boom in the car. I think he lost his hearing for a moment and almost died. And never mind that this is the best shot I got of our funds in the form of helium. Sorry kids! We can’t go on vacay this year, but here’s your giant balloons that will never deflate. Now let’s release you into the yard with them tied to all your limbs, and see how high you can go!
Wheeeeeeeeee!
The things we do.
So we decided to have a watergun party. In the middle of the bowels of the summer heat of Alabama, we thought it would be fun to combine the boys’ parties {July + August = must. combine.} And it was. Once we got past our why-on-earth-didn’t-we-just-go-to-chuck-e-cheese-because-I-circumbed-to-balloon-pressure-ness.
It was lots of fun.
It rained right beforehand, so I ran out of time to ‘set up’… but the weather was much cooler because of it.
I had a chance to step back and realize that everyone was having fun, even if my streamers were wonky. Because, news flash: no one cares if my streamers are wonky.
That even if I decorate a small table, it still doesn’t have to be perfect, ever. Chips and hotdogs are just fine. That my parents are amazing to cook those hotdogs in the heat… and that all that matters, is that the boys felt special. Giant balloons, wonky streamers… or not.
They had fun with their favorite people.
That’s what birthdays are all about.
And that it’s absolutely worth it to see the smiles on those faces.
We did simple cakes in small plastic cups – totally shamelessly borrowed from Shaunna’s party just at a few weeks before. {Their sweet kiddos were in attendance too – we love living close enough that they are able to play together.} But they {the cakes in cups – not the children} made serving a breeze.
Aiden got his chocolate, and Malone, his vanilla.
We made homemade water bombs. {No gross pieces of balloons to pick up later!} And that stand in the background is wood + sawhorses + pegs + ping pong balls for target practice. And we did this for all of the kids.
They had a blast.
They just had fun. Pure, simple, fun.
And then muddy ponds + sugar highs = wild. As in, make me nervous but I should have seen it coming… belly flops, let’s not all get e. coli, bitten by a snake, or something else my overactive imagination can come up with… wild.
It’s how we roll in Alabama, y’all.
So in honor of simple diy moves with birthdays {that you may hate me for later} I’ve revised a few printables to go with it… the invites + treat tags + thank you notes = all for you! {invites, thanks tags, thank you notes} Just click, and print.
The bunting is coming your way next week… I have all of the alphabet and numbers in super fun combos for you to customize all your own. {capital + lowercase each in 5 different color combos} But I think it was a little lost in translation with this post. There are so many files, we’ll have them up soon. We thought the possibilities with these letters are kinda endless!
{I had a date celebrating 12 years of wedded craziness with my hawt balloon guy/cupcake chef, so we’ll link them up here as well when they’re on the site}
Updated: Bunting available here!
Just another party in your pocket! If you’d like to see more in our series of printables for parties or gatherings, be sure to check them out, here!
Fun without the fuss. You know… for that whole balance thing. {See: nonexistent unicorn}
Have an inspired day, y’all!
Alice says
I love your realistic take on birthday parties and just your realness in general-hilarious! 🙂 such a simple/adorable take. So glad you all had fun!
Sammy says
What a great little party idea!
Catherine says
I laughed and laughed when I realised the photo of the cupcakes was actually your husband in your kitchen! Oh my goodness, that caption. I have two birthday parties coming up and I shall heed your words and try and rein in any Pinterest fuelled frenzy. Ha ha ha!
Megan @ Our Pinteresting Family says
You did an amazing job. It certainly looks like everyone was enjoying themselves. You are so sweet to share your printables too. Thank you!
Mary says
I love reading your blog! There is always something that brings smiles or belly gut laughter! Thanks so much for sharing, you should write a memoir someday.
-Mary
ashley @ the handmade home says
Awe thanks so much, Mary! ;} If only I could find the time! HA!
keitha (The Bajan Texan) says
HAHAHA i seriously snorted I laughed os hard when you were talking about the giant balloons LOL.
Looks like the kiddos had an absolute blast though and that makes it all worth it.
ashley @ the handmade home says
They did! I may have serious issues, but they did! ;}
Rochelle says
Thanks for a dose of perspective as I’m planning my daughter’s 16th birthday party! 😉
ashley @ the handmade home says
Oh goodness I can only imagine! Have fun! ;}
Angela says
Fun! Love the cupcake photo, lol.
Jill says
So…how do you make those cupcake in a cup thingies?!?! Must know – for this weekend!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Hey jill! – We baked a cupcake and stuck it in the bottom. Then icing. Then another cupcake {you can crumble if they don’t fit your cup precisely – these were smaller than your average solo cups} then more icing. Easy as pie…. they said. ;} It does make serving a cinch though! Hope that helps!
Meg says
So I’m sure it’s a little different everywhere but how much do they charge to fill up those giant balloons?? I was going to order them too, for a little photoshoot fun, but if they’re really that crazy expensive to fill- I’ll stick with regular balloons thankyouverymuch.
ashley @ the handmade home says
I just saw this comment – sorry I’m so slow! Yes, I would say probably around 10 dollars a balloon. We’ve been had. Get a quote before you agree to take any helium from any store. We went to Party City so that may have been one mistake. Maybe I should just buy my own helium tank. You know, for those parties we have once every six months. ;} One of them died last night, {stopped floating} and before sending it to balloon heaven, I snipped one end, and did some voices for the kids. I was determined to get my money’s worth.
And then I told the kids they couldn’t do it, because it’s probably not safe and my lung could implode or something. But like I said, money’s worth. 🙁