Birthday Bash

Yesterday we celebrated 3 of my 4 kids birthdays. My oldest son turned 6 on January 22, my oldest daughter turned 4 on the 24th of January and the youngest daughter will be 2 on February 15th. So since being so close together we combined the birthday's into one party. The girls wanted a Dora theme, and my son wanted a Scooby Doo theme. So my mother in law made the cakes and decorated them for me. I didn't buy any crate paper or balloons because I had stuff left over from last year. Well the morning of theparty wouldn't you know I couldn't find the birthday decorations anywhere in the boxes. So on our way to the church to get ready for the party, we had to stop and get a few last minute things I needed for the pasta salad I made and the chip dip I forgot. So wouldn't you know I had to stop and try to get some decorations some where along the way. We made several stops and no one had anything. We made one last stop, crossing our fingers hoping they had something. Well they did and of course it costed an arm and a leg too. When we got to the church I finished making my salad, and tried to get the decorating done. I had a little list for my husband to pick up when he went to get the pizzas. He spent $30 on a pinata and 3 bags of mixed candy, which was more than I told him to spend, hhhhrrrrr. Well by the time he got back there were people already there and people calling and asking how to spell my youngest daughters name, which is Kiara. The baby crying and I picked him up and smelled that he had messed his diaper. I run to change him and come back trying to get my husband to get people going through the dinner line. He asks someone to pray pray over the food and the people are finally on their way through the line. Kids running everywhere, hitting each other with balloons and 2 kids are fighting with each other, and then Kylie thinks she has to fall and hit her head. She's crying and I try comforting her, no such luck there, she wants Nana. After everyone is done eating the kids do the pinata, and gather their candy for their loot bags. One more task done and a few more to go. We got everyone around to do the cake and sing Happy Birthday. My husband cut the cake for everyone and boy did he ever make a mess of that. The ice cream was in the walk in freezer, which wasn't cold enough, and that ended up more like a milkshake than anything. The kids are begging to do the gifts and the weather is getting nasty out, so we do gifts. Try doing gifts for 3 different kids at the same time. Very confusing!!! Once there are done with that then we had clean up and load the van. I started cleaning up as Kirk loaded the van. I thought that everything was done and realized that the dishes didn't get done, and Kirk already had the kids loaded, so I had to wash FAST. When we got ready to leave the weather let up some and I was relieved. That was a long stressful day. I had no idea a party for 3 kids would be so much work, and to think I thought it would be easier to just have one party than two separate parties. I honestly think that I would rather do separate parties for the kids than to combine them another year. The only thing that was easier was that it was cheaper to do one for all the kids than to have two separate parties. What a HECTIC day!!!!!