How to survive a kid's birthday party

Yesterday we hosted a birthday party to celebrate my oldest daughter turning five. We had originally planned on doing an outside party, but we've had rain for the better part of a week, so our backyard was quite wet. Add in the unseasonably cold weather this month and the party had to be moved indoors.

I was a little stressed about having 15 kids between the ages of 2 and 8 in our house, so I put together this little bracelet to help me laugh about it when the crazies got crazy.  



"Stay positive" to remind me to do so , "cozy" because I knew it was going to be a bit cozy with all those people, and "This too" to remind me that the kids would eventually all go home again!

And it did help. Next year, however, we will definitely have fewer kids. Or rent out a party room somewhere!

Beautiful bracelet and I think you're very brave. When my DD was little we took her to the wacky warehouse.

http://www.wackywarehouse.co.uk/air-balloon-blackpool/parties

These beads work well together, I remember those birthday parties, just wait until your daughter wants a sleepover and then tries to persuade you to have a night away so she can can have a few friends round for a party!

So wonderfully apt and in such an unobstrusive way, wonderful!

Ha ha! I was going to answer your post heading with one word: alcohol.  

Great mini combo with big meaning. You are a good mom. Years from now you will look back on the party and still feel exhausted! But hopefully laugh too. We had a similar party for my DD when she was young; we were too busy to enjoy the real drama that was going on between two of the moms being more immature than the kids. Hope you can relax today.

Ahah I know the feeling and imagine my kid are 14 and 15 of May... All I can say is NIGHTMARE and alcohol at the end of the day! Love the combo!

Oh yes kids parties are a lot of fun and work! I love your use of beads on a bangle as a reminder throughout the day.

Aww perfect sentiments!! I'm glad it helped, my daughter is 17 now, so I've survived a few of those myself

We did, in fact, break out the alcohol once the party ended

Our daughter had a great time, though, and was very excited by everything, and it seemed like the other kids also had a good time.

But I am glad that birthdays only come once a year!

Nice bangle. Sooooo glad those birthday party days are behind me!

Those are pretty cool combination. I'm also about to embark in planning my kiddo's birthday party which is happening in 2 months time!
I think I'm just gonna rent out a themed party place so I won't get overwhelmed! LOL
Glad you survived your daughter's birthday party!

I remember kids birthday parties, you are very brave ! Love the use of the "This too shall pass" bead

I've always found it way more easy to deal with the kids (though sometimes there were many and there were sleepover parties later), than with the two grandma's and family coming the next day.
Those were the real challenges

Great combo!

15 kids oh my! Glad you survived with the help of your bangle combo. Hats off to you!

I love this bangle combo. I might have to make my own Cozy bangle

Nice combo! It's very encouraging to see there are survivors. I am 2 weeks away from my daughter's birthday party at home... The last time we had it at home we ended up with over 20 kids, since some kids showed up with siblings... We started from planning a small party for just a few BFFs... Hopefully this time we will be under 15 too. It will also be our new puppy's second day at home. We'll see how it goes...

Nice bracelet
OMG, I am laughing at some of these replies.   They bring back the memories!  

My 13 year old's variation on the birthday party theme was for HIS friends to bring the alcohol.  My "wasband" and I were dutifully supervising an activity-filled,  well-organized outdoor party for all the kids in his class.    And the little darlings were drinking their Cokes and Pepsi's out of cups which I thought was a bit strange.  It was near the end of the party that I realized they were pulling a fast one on me.  

Soooo,  darling Strike,  you have something to look forward to!

Sadly, since her sister had a party, our almost three year old is now expecting a party for her birthday next month I guess I can't break up this bracelet quite yet!

I may need to stock up on more wine. Although I guess I know that at least the kids won't be bringing any!

@natalyk, good luck with the new puppy! We have two dogs and we sent them to daycare for the day since one is a bit of a food piranha and can't be trusted around kids/food.