First Block Party of 2010!

Join our amazing community
Share what you know, learn something new!
register

girlsinmo

Well-Known Member
Premiere Member
Jan 1, 2008
3,996
1,668
113
MO
I hope I don't offend anyone but SN I'm not sure your birthday boy's mom thought out her party too well. Personally, if this had been my child and he's wanted his party to be part of the block party I would of handled it this way.

I would of given you a note to add to the invites that said some like this:my son(insert his name) will be having a birthday party during the block party. From insert time(example:1 p.m - 3 p.m) we will be playing games, listening to the band, opening presents and eating cake and ice cream in front of my house. Everyone at the block party is welcome to mosey on down and celebrate with us.

I'm afraid the way she is handling this some of the children may feel excluded, which wouldn't be a good thing. Then again maybe I'm misunderstanding the situation.
 

SparkleNana

New Member
Jan 3, 2008
10,354
1
0
Girlsinmo - I think you are right. The parents are really busy and overwhelmed and are just trying to do this as well as they can... given the limitations.

Today -- I picked up paper plates (big AND dessert size), cups, plastic forks and napkins. For the block party. I also looked at food. Safeway is having a sale (on Friday) -- their really big and tasty Hoagie" sandwiches (normally $8) are going to be on sale for $5. I will get 5 -- and cut them into 2" chunks and pile on a platter. I saw that steak-and-cheese taquitos are on sale too -- $11 for 60. they are great at room temperature. I will get them. Those two dishes will not require much cooking. So - the ham & turkey can get the oven. (With the small crescent rolls for sandwiches). AND - Dominos has medium pizzas for $5.50 -- if you order at least 3. This combination of dishes should give PLENTY of "solid food" for the Block Party. Then.... soda, water, wine and beer. Remember -- I am viewing this party as the "Christmas Open House" that I would love to give (in December) for neighbors and friends. Since I can't give it in December..... I will celebrate by "giving it" THIS weekend.... as part of the Block Party. Fun for me! Part of my year-long Christmas celebration!
 

Winged One

Retire Member
Sep 2, 2008
1,971
0
0
Fluttering happily in the clouds!!
Well done SN - it sounds like you are able to grab the reins of a horse galloping out of control and bring everything back to normal without making it obvious that there is a crisis.

I hope the Birthday Mom thanks you properly at the end of it all, but at least you will have organised the party well for the rest of the block! Enjoy it.
 

SparkleNana

New Member
Jan 3, 2008
10,354
1
0
Saturday, May 8th. It is 2:00 and the Block Party starts in three hours. We just got back from a soccer game (both dgs on the sam team). Beautiful afternoon and wonderful time!

This morning, I got helium balloons - to tie at the location of the Block Party -- and also - where the streets are blocked off. Also - cans of baked beans (vegetarian - since there are lots of vegetarians around). Beautiful spiral cut honey baked ham. (i couldn't find a not-frozen turkey and didn't have room to defrost one in the refrigerator). BUT - I did get the huge sandwiches - made on crusty loaves of Italian bread (6 of them) filled with all kinds of meat. I will slice into 2" chunks and that is another "solid" dish. I am going out now -- to set up some tables. Then -- another trip to the store -- for ice and more drinks. Oh -- I got 6 gallon jugs of nice spring water. NO DEHYDRATION allowed at the Block Party!

Talk to you later!
 

girlsinmo

Well-Known Member
Premiere Member
Jan 1, 2008
3,996
1,668
113
MO
SN hope everyone has lots of fun. Look forward to hearing about it.
 

sweetpumkinpye

Well-Known Member
Premiere Member
Apr 23, 2008
16,880
20,636
113
59
Canberra, Australia
Have fun at your party today. I hope that the weather stays nice and that everyone has a good time.
You will also have the pleasure of knowing that you can get together with your finds at a time and place that suits you and that when Christmas come around your friends will remember the wonderful time they had at your Block party.
Will be back later to see how it went.
 

SparkleNana

New Member
Jan 3, 2008
10,354
1
0
Here is the report on the Block Party. Big turnout - well over 100 people at our end of the block -- plus BIG numbers of kids age 10 and under -- at the other end of the block -- watching the band. (The band is age 10 - 14.)

The evening was incredibly beautiful. All the rose bushes and iris and clematis were in full bloom. There was lots of good food and drink. People stayed a long time - talking and laughing.

The band performed fro, 6:00 until at least 7:15. AND -- they started testing their equipment at 5:00 -- driving the 10 and under kids into a frenzy!!! The Band played in the driveway of the BIRTHDAY Boy's house -- and huge numbers of kids age 3 - 11 hovered around, watching.

One surprising thing was the amount of parental support for these band members. Every member of their families was wearing a blcak t-shirt -- with the name of the band in white letters. And -- the families were selling the t-shirts for $10 each. The families were also selling a CD that they had made of the band performing!!!

Although there were lots of kids outside of the birthday house, I was surprised NOT to see adults there - watching the band. (When I walked up to watch.) Later I found that the adults who were invited to the birthday party had taken refuge on the back deck -- where it was A LITTLE quieter. The band was very very loud -- although not horrible down at our end of the block.

Another thing that surprised me was that the 10 year old boys had set up a "Mosh Pit" in front of the band. Do you know what they are? A place where (usually masculine members of the human race) dance around - slamming into each other. Very rough and physical! The girls and young boys stood away -- staring,.

Another surprise -- I thought that the band was going to play actual songs -- written by actual musicians. NOT!

The band "wrote their own music". I think this was because they can NOT play actual songs because they can NOT actually play music. What they can do is make very very loud noises with their electric instruments -- magnified very loud by many "amps". They also shout absolutely incomprehensible lyrics into a microphone from time to time. (Lyrics which they have written.)

I retreated quickly down to the other end of the block.

The band stopped playing when the wind picked up and it got chilly. That is when the "water rifle" fight began. A running, water fight - drenching all the birthday party guests (kids, not adults.) Parents escorted drenched boys, with chattering teeth, past us on their way home. Of course -- these events led to a "dream party" of unimaginable fun and excitement for this age boys!

Each age group has their own idea of party fun -- and many age groups were very happy with the different activities "on the block"!!!
 
Last edited:

SparkleNana

New Member
Jan 3, 2008
10,354
1
0
So -- this morning, I am slowly returning garden furniture -- and container gardens -- to their rightful places. Many people have come by -- to pick up their own chairs and tables -- and talked about how great it was. (AND -- how this was a better weekend than a "big holiday weekend" -- Like Memorial Day or Labor Day.) Everyone seems to happily assume that we will do this party again and again! I didn't think I would organize one this year....... and because of the Birthday Boy..... I did work really hard. And it WAS wonderful. So..... who knows....... Maybe there will be some reason to organize another one in the future. Never say never.

There are just so many "ifs". I would not have gotten into this one.... except I thought that OTHER people were organizing it all. IF it had rained yesterday...... and the Block Party had to be held today...... that would have been very bad for me. Because I have to leave at 4:30 today -- for dgs baseball game and then dinner at a restaurant for MOTHERS DAY. So - if the party WAS today..... I wouldn't be there! And then -- all that money and all that effort I spent........ it would look like all the tables, chairs, platters of food, party bins full of ice, beer and wine -- as if the good fairy magically made them appear. And I would have had all the effort and no fun and felt like a fool!

So..... I am NOT planning to organize another Block Party -- fabulous though they are!! And.... I will be very very careful if somebody else says that THEY will organize a block party. But this time -- we squeaked through beautifully!!!
 

Santa_Elf

Retire Member
Oct 29, 2007
440
0
0
Wylie, TX (NE of Dallas)
SN - sounds like with all the problems beforehand that the party turned into a huge success, thnks to all your efforts. and just think, that come the holidays, you are already finished with your party and you can just relax and enjoy the peace. LOL

eddie
 

Kim Loves Snow

Santa's Elves
Premiere Member
Aug 3, 2008
4,329
35
48
Richmond, Virginia
SparkleNana - What a wonderful hostess you are! You are always so careful to watch out for everybody's needs. I sure hope your neighbors realize how lucky they are! I'm glad you had such a fantastic turnout! The weather was an added bonus, I'm sure! All in all it sounds like it turned out well. Kudos to you! Thank you for sharing the details with us.