Gambling and Kid Parties Totally Mix

I over-do parties.

I can't help it, I love the look on the kids faces when they have all their party supplies out decorating the house.

The cake is on the table, the balloons are everywehre.

The best snacks are out, pizza's coming.

There's a jump-house on the lawn and the weather is threatening.

Did I mention that every year we've gotten a jump-house the weather is threatening?!

We get that call first thing in the morning telling us, "if we bring it, you pay for it." Otherwise I can cancel, it rains, and there's no monetary loss.

But, every year, I say "bring it!" and every year it ends up drizzling and we have wet jumpers.

They don't care, it's more fun that way. But then they come back into the house, wet and cold like dirty little puppies. Eew.

But, I sacrifice my carpets and the week later when they're all sick, all for the sake of fun.

It's our fault. We didn't plan ahead to have summer babies.

This year we're having a double-party again. By accident, but none-the-less, 2 parties for the price of....well probably 2 parties.

K's 3rd birthday party is on Super Bowl Sunday. You might remember my anti-football post.

Well last year the party also fell on the same day, but I didn't realize it. Whatever, people hung out longer, we put together an impromptu football pool, all was good enough, I pretty much ignored the game until the last few minutes of each quarter.

Did I mention I won 3 quarters of the pool, that rocked, so this year when the dates coincided again, I didn't fret.

This time i'll be prepared. After the party, I'm making my favorite chili recipe and getting my gambling on by preparing the pool.

Like I said, nothing like over-doing it for the sake of a party.

PS. I still don't like football, but any excuse to gamble, i'm in.

51 supporters in group:

  1. WeaselMomma said...

    It's smart to introduce the kids to gambling. It reinforces math skills. Besides, do you want them to learn this type of thing on the street?

  2. Amy W said...

    Ah yes, gambling makes everything a little more fun, doesn't it! It think I'll start a pool next party I throw betting on which kid cries first. There's always at least one kid that falls, gets mad, gets hurt, etc. :)

  3. Amanda said...

    The kids have fun. the adults have fun. Everybody wins. I'm totally guilty of overdoing parties too.

  4. Diane said...

    i waaaay overdo parties too. afterwards i always kick myself in the butt. but the kids love it. and i'm trying to make memories here! so it's worth it!

  5. Shannon said...

    I didn't plan summer babies, either. In fact, both of my girls have bdays next month. And where we live, you NEVER know what the weather will be like during winter. One year it's mild and pleasant, the next cold and rainy. The girls would love to have a bouncy-house thingy but I've not done one because I never know about the weather!

  6. Doublebanker said...

    You don't make many friends when you win 3 out of 4 quarters. I had people mad when I hit 2 quarters a few years back. Good luck in the Super Bowl pool this year. Probably

    Eagles vs Steelers.

  7. Tenakim said...

    AT least you live in a warmer climate and have options- I have winter babies too. I go overboard on parties too and love it! Unfortunately, we are all inside! My son's bday is tomorrow and Beebs is the end of Feb. My son always has a 'football' themed party- he loves football! I get to play hostess- I'm good with that.

    On New Years, the kids played Guitar Hero and the adults played Texas Hold'Em- I won $30!!!

  8. Margo said...

    I could so get into gambling combined with 3yr. old's birthday party. It sounds like it will be great fun. Have a good time getting ready! I'll have to check out your anti-football post..DH is a huge Phil. Eagles fan is wild with excitement. I kinda was secretly hoping they wouldn't make the playoffs :)

  9. AC said...

    I overdo parties too. I think I have some sort of sickness. I confess I am embarrassed about it sometimes but I can't stop. I try to do low key, then always want more and MORE!!! I was hoping that getting a hobby like blogging would help me but it just feeds my drive to party bigger and better...

    Maybe we could start a support grp for this!

    BTW, Jen, would you mind helping me with my duoboobie dilemma? More about this on today's post at http:// crazyjugs.blogspot.com

  10. Ali said...

    The only time I watch pro football is the Super Bowl--I'm in it for the food!

  11. April said...

    Sounds like the best kind of party to me.

  12. Rachel said...

    What great fun; rain and a bounch house; I am sure the kids have a blast!

    Good luck on the upcoming party...I love me some football!

  13. Tyne said...

    gambling and kid parties are awesome. Although I like to gamble on the kids actions, like who will eat the most cake, which kid will have the biggest temper tantrum... you know?

  14. Allison said...

    Oh I am an over doer as well! Now I have 2 kids... oh so in trouble! I love the gambling that comes with superbowl... bring on the squares!

  15. Unknown said...

    LOL...yep nothing like kid parties and gambling...I love football but stink at all the pools! go figure

  16. Unknown said...

    Your parties sound like so much fun!

    And way to go winning--I hope you get to win this year, too!

  17. Diva Ma @ Mommy Fabulous said...

    My family gambled over games of Connect Four on Christmas! Makes everything more interesting!

  18. Over Coffee - the green edition said...

    That should make your brother and SIL happy!

  19. Annie said...

    I'm more into kid parties and drinking, but adding gambling is a novel idea!

  20. Dee said...

    YAY for winning most of the pool!!! Sounds like a good time to me...I'm not much of a football person either!

  21. Aria said...

    Are you kidding me? It's the perfect combination! All the fun of the party WITH the chance to recoup some of the gazillions of dollars spent on it... Now I'm ticked that my kids are born in October and March!

  22. Lindsay said...

    OOO sounds like a blast! I only love 1 football team.. but I like the commercials during the Super Bowl.

  23. Swirl Girl said...

    This year for the little one's 5th bday we are foregoing a party for a day at Disney. Same money - less hassle.

    She'd rather have lunch with Ariel than a jumpy house and pizza. Good choice, baby.

  24. Dee said...

    And I just tagged you on my blog...come play if you want! :)

  25. Unknown said...

    I think you just gave me the idea for my son's 5th birthday in April. Thanks!

    Sounds like you have great parties at your place! : )

  26. Barbara said...

    Uh heck yeah! It ain't no fun if either someone doesn't come out of it all sick or injured =)

  27. Christina said...

    Hey Jen, and thanks for the comment at my place today! I'm generally here reading but lacking the time to comment. I know you know how that goes. ;o)

    My poor kid doesn't have a party planner of a mother like you!

  28. Cajoh said...

    Is there a pool over which kid gets sick first? Twenty bucks on the kid in the shorts…

    Good luck with your party— hope all goes well.

  29. Jenni said...

    I say you let the kids gamble too! Tell them all to bring 5 bucks for the pool! You can never start this kind of thing too early...

  30. Brittany said...

    I am also an over doer. EVery party ALWAYS consists of glass vases full of M&Ms of coordinating party colors that I spent a week prior picking out of endless giant bags of M&Ms. It makes things more special.

    Good luck for the big game!

  31. Candy said...

    You've been declared Fabulous, my friend! Come on over to my blog and grab your prize! (And it's not fish oil or anything like that)

  32. Deb DiSalvo said...

    I TOTALLY over do-it for parties too! I feel like I have to always have the best, biggest, etc.!!! I can get a bit crazed!
    Cheers.

  33. Dennis and Leslie said...

    What a great concept! Birthday cake and gambling! Love it, good luck with your party this year, oh and your bets ;)

  34. A Crafty Mom said...

    LOL, it sounds like a good idea, Jen!! I think K's birthday must be a couple days after my little Thing 3's. COOL!!! Nothin' like a January birthday up north here in the frigid cold. There will be no jumping unless it's on my bed, lol.

  35. Linda S said...

    as long as it doesn't end in you jumping out of a cake, I'd say go for it!

  36. mollybloom said...

    I miss the bouncy houses! I really cannot believe K is going to be three---

  37. jill jill bo bill said...

    You are a genius combining football parties and kid's parties. you should be a teacher or something! HEH

  38. Blog Stalker said...

    I just love football pools! It makes it interesting even when you have no interest in the teams playing.

    Good luck with the weather!

  39. Blog Stalker said...

    I love football pools. They make even an uninteresting game fun to watch.

    Good luck with the weather!

  40. Stacy Uncorked said...

    I always way over-do parties, too...never thought about introducing gambling to them, though, I'm liking that idea! ;)

  41. April said...

    You are a genius! The jump house will wear the kids out so that they will snooze through the ballgame...and not interfere with the gambling!

  42. Ann Harrison said...

    Hey Jen, are patterns are a bit similar. I'm just recovering from a delayed party for my 11 year old today.
    Both of my girls have December birthdays. Planning? What planning? ;->

  43. Maritez said...

    I hate football too, but I love superbowl parties!

  44. tiarastantrums said...

    love to throw parties - and I so overdo it all the time!!!

  45. Haasiegirl said...

    Holy crap thats gonna be a busy day!!!! You are far braver then i.

    trisha

  46. Minxy Mimi said...

    LOL, food and gambling... thats how I like to roll! Have fun!

  47. SuZ said...

    Egh, I have to start planning Roo's 2nd birthday party. Just thinking about it makes me exhausted. :)

  48. kel said...

    Gambling does make everything more fun!!! I love the big kids birthday parties! we do that here too!

  49. Heather said...

    Can I come to your party? Sounds way fun. :-)

  50. Mrs4444 said...

    I prefer to be the GUEST at a party :)

  51. Lisa said...

    I go overboard on birthdays too. And to be honest, I love it! I love to go gaga with the theme of the year & make my kiddos feel super duper special!

    This year Goosey's 5th birthday will be exactly 12 days before I'm due with #3. I've already started worrying about how I should do that. And the end of April in Iowa iffy. Sometimes it's nice, and a lot of times it is not. Last year I had to cancel the bounce house the day of.

    What's K's theme this year? besides football, that is!

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