My oldest was born on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. This means that I was waddling around the local mall on Thanksgiving weekend trying desperately to walk myself into labor after consuming my weight in mashed potatoes and dinner rolls. We drove home from the hospital in a blizzard, the likes of which Kansas City usually doesn’t see that early in the season (yay for us). After celebrating his birth with snow and limited visibility conditions, the birthdays that followed continued to offer up challenges when it came to mindful planning. It’s challenging enough that Max’s birthday falls around a major holiday, but add to it the fact that end-of-November weather doesn’t necessarily open the door to endless birthday party options and it’s a recipe for heightened mom anxiety.
Well, I felt that way at first – but Max is now approaching his eighth birthday and his past parties are some of my absolute favorites. Winter weather and all. 🙂
Winter Wonderland Party
Rather than fret about the weather, embrace the season! Winter Wonderland-themed parties aren’t only adorable, they provide plenty of opportunities to add a creative twist to traditional party ideas. Replace party hats with reindeer antlers and snowflake headbands and give the kiddos the chance to create their own magical Frosty with the help of a snowman craft project. Decorative sugar work on top of cupcakes can make them look like an icicle dream and everyone can be sent home with hot chocolate favors that will keep them warm when the cold wind blows.
Destination Birthday – Splurge
Okay, so this isn’t something that you would do every year, but sometimes things just have a way of working out. When I learned that a Disney on Ice performance was coming to Des Moines, we met my parents there to celebrate Max’s birthday on a weekend getaway adventure. Although the show was the highlight, its fun-factor was closely followed by access to the hotel swimming pool and arcade room. The hotel was happy to let us set up a birthday party in the common area, which couldn’t have been timed better because it fell during the complimentary happy hour (cheers to us)! Then again, the “destination” may just be a ride across town. Kansas City has many wonderful children’s shows and events (this year, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is playing at the Coterie Theater and ice skating at Crown Center is always a family favorite), any of which would be a great way to spend a very special day.
That’s a Strike!
You haven’t lived until you’ve seen kids try to bowl. Even with the bumpers that bowling alleys set up for children’s parties, there’s inevitably at least one ball that finds its way onto a neighboring lane. Because bowling is the real draw, you can put as much or as little work into the party details as you want, either relying on the package deal that bowling alleys often offer or coming up with your own theme and decorating the space yourself. The best thing about bowling parties, hands-down, is the pin that the guest of honor gets to take home, autographed by everyone at the party. Bowl on!
Party Places
Chances are, it will only be a matter of time before your child asks for a birthday party that involves a bounce house, sock-only policy, and party tokens. Lucky for you, there are many local options available that offer a variety of activities under one roof. Amazing Play (laser tag, cloud jumper, jungle gym, and laser maze), PowerPlay (arcades, laser tag, and go-carts) and Maze Craze (mirror maze, laser maze, and laser tag) are all favorites among slightly older ages (I would suggest 5+). Community centers are also great resources, some providing party packages that include use of the swimming pools or rock walls.
So put on those winter boots — or bowling shoes — and enjoy all that the season has to offer when it comes to party planning. If the snow flies, embrace it and join the kiddos in a sledding party! You’ll be the coolest mom ever (pun intended).
