Party Girl

So I have been working under the assumption that birthday parties are only significant events for 1-5 year olds. Perhaps this has been wishful thinking by someone who tends to over think parties in general. I definitely don't blow a huge budget on kids parties, but I admittedly spend an embarrassing amount of energy planning the venue, food, guest list, invitations, tablecloths, napkins, cake flavor, cake salutation. Well, you get the idea.

Based on my many conversations with wiser parents of older kids (I'm talking about you JQ), I became convinced that the birthday charade was coming to an end for my eldest child who will be six this summer. In this fantasy, she would be engrossed with a smaller circle of friends and have more modest party goals. Movie with friends. Ice cream outing with a few soccer buddies. Scavenger hunt in the backyard with the kids of my closest friends along with a lovely spread of wine and cheese and non-kid tunes spinning on the iPod.

Folks, I was wrong. Although we are still 4 months out, Carly brought up the topic innocently enough.

"Mom, what is a surprise party?"

Then I fell for the trap:
"Well, it's a party where everything is a surprise...the guests, food, games are all a big surprise for the guest of honor."

Without a second of hesitation:
"Great. I'd like a surprise party for my next birthday."

I'm screwed.