We’ve been to quite a few birthday parties over the past 3 years and counting. And by “we”, I mean School Girl and me (in almost half of the cases). We’ve been to birthday parties in people’s houses (a couple of the more elaborate home parties were ones where School Girl went alone), parties at “Party palaces” – think Chuck E. Cheese and the like – and then there were the ones for School Girl herself.

Then there was Friday.

School Girl’s best friend had her 8th birthday party Friday and Saturday. Yes, it was a sleepover. It was a really long sleepover, involving a trip to our local mall, a gigantic mountain of candy at home, and just the thrill for Best Friend’s mother of having 7 wound-up 7-year-olds desperately trying not to sleep.

School Girl said she had a pretty good time. We did get a phone call around 10 or so; she was having a hard time dealing with all the noise, which has gotten better over time but something that’s always been a problem. Evil Dad and I talked her into trying again. By the time we checked in on her in half an hour, things were going much better.

I should say that we’re not into gigundous parties involving everyone in the class, magicians, rented bouncy castles, or epic voyages. We’ve got a small house, and I’ve always let School Girl choose who she’d like to invite. Up to about 6 people. So far, we’ve had parties with 8 (3 invitees and Best Friend’s family) and parties with 5. Last year’s party wasn’t too bad. The kids had a game of balloon soccer going in the living room, we made dry-ice lemonade to go with the vegan cupcakes, and they got to watch Scooby-Doo. Everybody apparently had a good time. School Girl had a good time too, which was the whole point of the afternoon.

I’m trying to talk School Girl into a weekend trip this year, maybe even down to the Springs, for her birthday. Let’s see how far I get with that one, shall we?