December was a busy month (for everybody, I’m told) so I am just getting around to writing about Mazzy’s 5th birthday party, which happened way back on December 13th. Ditto for writing Mazzy’s ‘thank you’ notes. I’m still working on those too.
I guess a good mom would take the time to write the notes before she took the time to write the post about how she did not write the notes, but I have never claimed to be a good mom.
I’ll send them out tomorrow. Perhaps the next day. On second thought, if you attended the party and read my blog, please know Mazzy loved your present, plays with it all the time and thanks you from the bottom of her heart. You mean the world to her. XOXO.
Did that do the trick? No? You think the etiquette police are knocking on my door this very moment? Shit. Does this mean I have to invite them in and offer them a drink?
I’m very bad at ‘thank you’ notes. That’s a fact. But I do get to them eventually. If you don’t receive one from me by the end of January, that means it was lost in the mail. Please don’t ask anyone if they received theirs. They were all lost in the mail. It was a very bad day for mail carriers. A whole truck was stolen. Postmen and women all held at gun point. Don’t worry, no one was hurt. That’s the important thing. They captured the culprit too. But they never did find the truck. What a shame. All that time writing the thank you notes.
Where was I again?
Ah, yes… Mazzy’s 5th birthday party. It was a Frozen party, as if I needed to tell you that. Mazzy was not about to celebrate half a decade on this earth without the two people who have meant the most to her all year— Elsa and Anna.
It was not just a Frozen party. It was a Frozen Disco party at Downtown Dance Factory in Tribeca. They handle all the basic party supplies, do all the set-up/clean-up and hold the party in two bright big rooms— one for dancing and one for food. We actually held Mazzy’s party there last year and she asked to have her party in the same place again. I really liked last year’s party so I was like— HELL YEAH! Frozen Disco it is!
Last year was just a dance party though. This year was obviously 1000x better. What with the addition of Elsa and Anna’s faces on all the decor. Don’t their braided heads of hair make everything better?
Speaking of braided heads, that was the big pre-party question.
“Do you want your hair braided like Elsa or Anna?”
Silly question. From Day One, Mazzy has always been TEAM ANNA.
I debated whether to go full-on Frozen decor or subtle Frozen decor. I consulted with Little Miss Party (she sits next to me every day) who has done numerous subtle Frozen themes. They have pretty blue cakes, hanging tissue paper snowflakes and winter wonderland tablescapes with “Build a Snowman” goodie bags containing marshmallows, chocolate chips and pretzel sticks— very chic.
I decided to go the other way— a full-on Frozen theme with Anna and Elsa’s heads on paper plates. The cake would also have Anna and Elsa’s heads on it. The cups? Anna and Elsa’s heads too. There was a big Olaf balloon and a real reindeer running around the place.
I’m kidding about the reindeer. Although, if I had really planned ahead, I would have bought a headband with antlers for Harlow.
There was eating.
There was dancing.
And there was a club remix of “Let It Go” playing on a loop.
I must say I was pretty impressed with Mazzy’s ability to “work it”. That’s a little scary to say, but at one point they did this runway thing where everyone had to strut down the center and Mazzy looked like she had been coached by J. Alexander (aka Miss Jay from America’s Next Top Model for those of you who didn’t watch that show religiously at some point in your lives.)
During the party, I also had the realization that my kids are involved in a love triangle that will one day tear my family apart. As most of you know, Seri’s son Gavin is Mazzy’s boyfriend. He’s the one dropping his jaw in the photo above on the left .
Well, it seems Harlow has decided she is in love with him too. And by the looks of things, Gavin appears to be leading Harlow on.
Please note that Harlow is very exclusive with her affection. Until this moment, it had been immediate family members only.
At one point in the party, we found Gavin holding Harlow in his arms and giving her a head massage! Right next to Mazzy! On her birthday!
It was like an episode of The Hills or something.
Anyway. Mazzy loved the party. Even if it didn’t look as full-on Frozen as I was imagining. This was mainly because the party room at Downtown Dance Factory is big and I would have needed the entire kingdom of Arendelle to fill it. Also, if someone tells you they can put Elsa and Anna’s heads on a cake for a small fee, ask to see an example of that person’s work. I was expecting a little more than their heads drawn on a square sticker stuck on top of the cake.
But no matter. The next day at school, one mom reported that her daughter came home from Mazzy’s party calling it “the best party ever” and several of Mazzy’s classmates were wearing the snowflake bracelets I had put in the gift bags.
Did I mention the gift bags? I bought snowflake cookie cutters for $1.25 a piece at Sur La Table, Frozen bracelets and pencils in bulk at Oriental Trading Company and added Hershey Kisses for a little something sweet. Cheap and practical. I was quite proud of them.
FYI- this is where I am in my life. A bunch of five-year-old girls wear a $.25 bracelet and I feel victorious. I’m not stupid. I know I have limited time left when things I do are still considered “cool”.
Thank you Downtown Dance Factory for another stupendous party!
Just don’t expect an actual ‘thank you’ card in the mail.
Make a small “Thank You” sign. Have Mazzy hold sign and smile. Take a picture. Print picture. Mail picture. Done!
I received a thank you note from someone who took a picture of her daughter standing next to a “Thank you” cartoon bubble she’d drawn with chalk. It was adorable. She included a handwritten note as well, though…
I identify with you-it always takes me forever to get those thank you notes out, particularly since my daughter’s birthday is less than two weeks before Christmas. I always plan to get them done before Christmas but never do.
Great party (obviously). We just had a very similar four year old shindig at a gymnastics place.
But I already sent out my thank you notes, HA!
But most importantly, what is going on with Gavin’s shoes? Are the tongues huge Pom poms? Is this a style that hasn’t extended beyond the city yet? Info needed.
I’m in love with Gavin’s shoes. Very street-chic. I guess as a mom of boys, you sneak in style where you can.
Seri says they are Ninja Turtle themed sneakers with actual Ninja Turtle heads coming out of the top. Gavin saw them at H&M in Toronto while on a three hour shopping trip. She bought them because he had been really good the whole time. “They are so ugly. It was a weak moment for me.”
I let her know that everyone else thinks they are the coolest and really fashion forward!
My 3.5 year old who LOVES turtles would think Gavin’s shoes are the best!
Kids have their whole lives ahead of them to worry about what they look like; they’re allowed to wear “ugly” shoes with cool Ninja Turtles on them!! I think it’s sad some people treat their children like walking models. They’re kids! They’re going to get dirty and messy and before you know it they’re out of the house, and looking back I think anyone would be disappointed that they didn’t just let their child dress like a child.
I’m sure we all have better things to do then criticize the fashion choices of a child! I think those shoes are great, especially knowing the story behind them 🙂
Speaking for Seri, she totally dresses Gavin like a child and does not treat him like a walking a model. That’s ridiculous. If Mazzy pointed out a pair of sneakers that had Dora’s head popping out of the top, I wouldn’t want to get them either and I’m allowed to say yes or no depending on what I’m feeling at the time. Please don’t spend another moment feeling bad for Gavin. HE IS FINE. With or without his cool Ninja sneakers.
Oh no, you took me completely the wrong way. I was replying to the lady who seemed to be making a huge deal out of his shoes. I was really just saying that yes, they’re hideous, but he’s a kid, so it shouldn’t be a big deal. Calm down! I’m definitely not feeling sorry for anyone. Gavin looks really cute. I was seriously just trying to point out to the original commenter that maybe we shouldn’t critique the shoe choices of a four year old. Sheesh.
Oh my gosh! I was not making fun of him! I was genuinely curious. Now that I look back I can tell they are ninja turtle but I really couldn’t at first and was just wondering.
Now you’re the judgey one 😉 ! At least we’re all on the same page about adorable Gavin and his, I’m sure, awesome mom.
Those great-nephews of mine (Gavin & Luke) certainly know how to pick up chicks at parties. I love the new love connection between Gavin and Harlow…….and Luke can really shake his tush on the dance floor. Happy Birthday Mazzy!!
Looks like a great party!! I have to say I suck at thank you cards, our wedding thank you cards are sitting in a box in our basement (we got married 5 years ago)
Great party! I’d be excited to see the bracelets being worn as well! And you even intend to send Thank You notes? That’s already more than I do. The gift bag at the end is our Thank You.
Mazzy’s party looks like it was a great time! You should probably call MTV for her 6th birthday.
Phew! My daughter had a birthday party the same day and the unwritten thank you notes keep
Popping into my head! Glad I am not the only one 😉
My daughter just had a birthday party (her first!)…I’ve written the thank you notes…I have not addressed them. The story about the mail truck tragedy made me giggle more than it should have. Good luck with the notes. Great party! 🙂
What a fun party! And I’m kinda in love with Mazzy’s dress/tunic/whatever-you-call-it. Can you please tell me where you got it?
Love love love your site. Hilarious. True and totally real life.
Inspires me to write more about my crazy as well 😉 thanks for the laughs!
[…] one occasion. You’ve seen Gavin making eyes at Mazzy on the top of the Empire State Building, dropping his jaw at Mazzy’s Frozen birthday party and inserting himself in the middle of our family photo when […]