Birthday Party Sleepover.  Yes, you could say I’ve lost my mind.  My tween began planning her birthday party sleepover weeks before the big day.  While I was deeply immersed in the last two weeks of prep for the Summer Market at Avon Lake.  While I was so distracted I didn’t have too many objections to what she was planning.  And she proceeded to tell her friends what she was planning and that they were invited.  How can a Mom ever say ‘no’ now??

So we had a birthday party sleepover.  7 girls invited plus my 3 made 10 girls – ages 5 to 15.  Yes, my girls have friends in a range of ages.  It’s fun seeing the different ages and how they interact and play.

Vintage Bikes make great decor for all kinds of things – including birthday parties.

Gather sign leftover from the Summer Market went very well with everything else we had going on.

I bought this darling driftwood sailboat at the Summer Market.  I just couldn’t resist and knew it would be perfect for the party – I had several other boats to use too.

The knit banners were made by a friend.  I sold a couple at the Summer Market and bought the rest myself.  I love them so much!

Emma helped with the decor.  It hasn’t been that long ago that I couldn’t imagine handing over any decor to my kids – I loved doing it myself.  But age and mounting responsibilities change things!  I am usually glad for the help these days!

Birthday cake was super simple.  2 cake mixes, 2 tubs of icing.  Ice between the layers and the top.  Emma made a Lego sailboat for the top.  A couple of straws with baker’s twine strung between them and viola – cute birthday cake.This large sailboat was found at an antique shop earlier in the summer.  I managed to keep it hidden till the party.

Party favors.  Boxes held candy, a pen, and a handwritten note from Larke.  The journals under each box went with them.  The journals and pens were a huge hit.  They got the idea to have everyone sign the inside of the front cover and they had quite the grand time going around getting signatures.  

Getting all set up for pics.

And of course we have to be silly.  That crazy kid in the center with the white eyeballs is my youngest.  She’s a mess!

And now we will smile pretty!

Waiting to eat.

Hamburgers

Steak – specific request from the birthday girl.

Mac and cheese.  Not pictured – corn chip salad.  Simple meal and stress-free for Mom.

Big sis lights the candles.  

Time for presents.

She was so excited about everything she got.

Young, Wild, and Free.  Perfect shirt for Larke.

Remember the black hat from last winter?  Maybe this year we will have more color in our head gear!

As twilight descended Dad built a fire.

And roasted marshmallows.

The younger bunch drawing in their journals.

And then the party moved inside for the sleepover part.  My living room was transformed into a bedroom.

Candy and snacks were required.

And a movie and popcorn rounded things out.  They did very well.  A few of them were still talking and laughing at 1:00 and I told them it was time to be quiet (I was tired of being woke up – I know I’m so mean) and turned off all the lights.  After that everyone got some sleep.

As a Mom I can’t honestly say I love sleepovers.  But I loved them as a kid.  And the ‘Thanks for the great party’ from my daughter made it worth it.  Once a year I can handle.  (I am trying to talk my almost 9-year-old into JUST a birthday party this year though!)

What do you do for birthdays?

Jill

Sew a Fine Seam

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