I have lost my mind...how much damage can be done??

[lovemygoofy]

So yes, it's official I have lost my mind.

My friend called begging, desperate to use my house for her son's birthday party. I love the kid and she is my BFF here so I have agreed to have 10 eight year old boys at the house for a lego themed birthday party.

The parents are also welcome of course and I guess siblings. I told her I'd like to keep it at 20 people if possible.

So tell me how bad can 10 boys be? I have a kid friendly basement with the wii and stuff and of course there will be the kids games and lego things.

My friend said I could go away while they are doing the party but for insurance purposes I thought I should stay.

Any thoughts or tips to help me with this birthday party?

 

[Liberty Belle]

Honestly, it could get bad. It all depends on the person/people running the party. If they set guidelines right away and are firm (but fun, of course), it could go well. If they don't...it could be mayhem.

My youngest had his 7th birthday party at home and just three boys and three girls came. It got pretty crazy pretty quickly (one of the boys just would not listen to me - was jumping on my couches!) and I'm a para, so I know how to handle kids in groups.

 

[java]

I have an eight year old son. Al I can say is bubble wrap whatever you love including pets.

 

[Cinderella94]

Question that I know is totally OT and you didn't ask for any opinions on this at all: why in the world does she need your house?????

 

[clh2]

My opinion...Nope - sorry - no sibs... Just put your foot down on that one. The rest would be OK - as long as there is a good parent - kid ratio...

Good Luck!!!

 

[Handbag Lady]

Bourbon.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Thanks so much for the heads up. I'm praying that it won't be THAT bad.

I have an eight year old son. Al I can say is bubble wrap whatever you love including pets.

I understand that the kids can be hyper and a bit ummm active. I told my friend the only rule is no one in the family area which has my husbands huge plasma tv.

Question that I know is totally OT and you didn't ask for any opinions on this at all: why in the world does she need your house?????

My friend has a small house and no room. Apparently she didn't try to book something elsewhere far enough out and I have a huge house that is partially empty and what is done is child friendly for the most part. I hope to contain the party to the basement which is very family friendly.

 

[Cinderella94]

Apparently she didn't try to book something elsewhere far enough out

I would have told her that Chuck E. Cheese doesn't require reservations! (They really don't. You can show up on a Saturday with 15 kids and use any empty tables).

You're a very good friend to let her do this.

Sorry to change the topic a little here.

 

[figment52]

So yes, it's official I have lost my mind.

My friend called begging, desperate to use my house for her son's birthday party. I love the kid and she is my BFF here so I have agreed to have 10 eight year old boys at the house for a lego themed birthday party.

The parents are also welcome of course and I guess siblings. I told her I'd like to keep it at 20 people if possible.

So tell me how bad can 10 boys be? I have a kid friendly basement with the wii and stuff and of course there will be the kids games and lego things.

My friend said I could go away while they are doing the party but for insurance purposes I thought I should stay.

Any thoughts or tips to help me with this birthday party?

Adult beverages, and lots of them - lol.

 

[OceanAnnie]

You are a very good friend.

I have a friend that opened her house like that for a friend. She has had several parties for this person since and people asking her all the time to host their parties. She has a circle of friends and once the word got out, it was like the dam broke.

She's about had it with the parties.

 

[java]

My friend has a small house and no room. Apparently she didn't try to book something elsewhere far enough out and I have a huge house that is partially empty and what is done is child friendly for the most part. I hope to contain the party to the basement which is very family friendly.

Basement only is a great rule! And with 8 year olds call it the dungeon. I'm sure she knows this but Lego sells party packs. The website also has some good party ideas. Busy is your friend!

 

[Handbag Lady]

You know, this could actually be really fun.



You can get a folding table for cheap at Big Lots and glue down either a lot of Legos or a Lego sheet on the top. This way, the Legos are confined to one small area and they can still build and be creative.

You can even come up with silly Lego games. Build two towers and have them do ring toss over the towers for small prizes (or is that too young for this age?). Maybe get odd-ball sets and have a contest to see who can build the strangest looking thing.

Anyway, just thinking about it seems like a hoot.

 

[lovemygoofy]

You are a very good friend.

I have a friend that opened her house like that for a friend. She has had several parties for this person since and people asking her all the time to host their parties. She has a circle of friends and once the word got out, it was like the dam broke.

She's about had it with the parties.

I told her I was going to start charging for this kind of stuff. People have been asking if I would let them have their pampered chef or whatever else stuff no one needs parties at my house. The house layout is great for those kind of parties and I guess because we don't have children it's ideal.

Basement only is a great rule! And with 8 year olds call it the dungeon. I'm sure she knows this but Lego sells party packs. The website also has some good party ideas. Busy is your friend!

My friend has all kinds of plans and no doubt lists upon lists of directions to make this happen.

You know, this could actually be really fun.



You can get a folding table for cheap at Big Lots and glue down either a lot of Legos or a Lego sheet on the top. This way, the Legos are confined to one small area and they can still build and be creative.

You can even come up with silly Lego games. Build two towers and have them do ring toss over the towers for small prizes (or is that too young for this age?). Maybe get odd-ball sets and have a contest to see who can build the strangest looking thing.

Anyway, just thinking about it seems like a hoot.

The ironic thing is I've never even played with legos. My friend ordered this couple thousand piece kit and the first game is to guess the amount of pieces in the tub. I think your thought about ring toss is awesome too and will suggest that.

Each child is getting a lego box to put in their building pieces in and then they can take hom their lego creation in their lego box.

We do have several fold up tables that are going to be put out so there is elbow room to work.

 

[golfgal]

I would hope she is not expecting you to provide decorations or anything for the party. I would tell her NO to the siblings and quite honestly, 8 year olds don't need Mom or Dad along at the party either. The boys will be fine as long as they have enough to do. If nothing else, get Just Dance for the Wii and let them wear each other out

 

[scbelleatheart]

So yes, it's official I have lost my mind.

My friend called begging, desperate to use my house for her son's birthday party. I love the kid and she is my BFF here so I have agreed to have 10 eight year old boys at the house for a lego themed birthday party.

The parents are also welcome of course and I guess siblings. I told her I'd like to keep it at 20 people if possible.

So tell me how bad can 10 boys be? I have a kid friendly basement with the wii and stuff and of course there will be the kids games and lego things.

My friend said I could go away while they are doing the party but for insurance purposes I thought I should stay.

It will not be that bad. You have the space and are being a good freind. The entire football team spent every weekend at my house from age 8 until 18. I loved having them at my house but they ate a lot of food and I washed too many towels.
BTW, I like your posts!

Any thoughts or tips to help me with this birthday party?

It will not be that bad. You have the space and are being a good freind. The entire football team spent every weekend at my house from age 8 until 18. I loved having them at my house but they ate a lot of food and I washed too many towels.
BTW, I like your posts!

 

[mickilee]

I have lost my mind...how much damage can be done??

.....................................................................


you will be stepping on Lego for months.!!!!!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I have lost my mind...how much damage can be done??

.....................................................................


you will be stepping on Lego for months.!!!!!

And those things hurt like heck!

 

[kirstenb1]

Okay, I thought you were trying to have a baby!! This experience may well prove to be the only 100 percent birth control out there!!

I'm just kidding. Let your friend do the planning/set up/refreshments/take down. I'm sure she's expecting to anyway, so this should go pretty well. You're a great sport and a terrific friend. You remind me of my baby sister, who's my best friend too. She's great with kids, and would totally volunteer to do something like this.

At that age, kids are kind of clueless about rules and being respectful of a tidy house. The only advice I have, is treat them like they're you're own. If they need to take off shoes at the foyer, have them do it, etc. Most kids are so decent, they just need to know any guidelines you have about your home.

 

[StitchFanZ]

I would also limit to the boys only - no siblings unless you know them. Otherwise, you could end up with much younger or much older kids that don't listen or stay in the designated area.

I would also ask her for an adult to monitor the Wii or any equipment. Groups of kids can feed off of each other and normally well behaved kids can became really crazy and wild and equipment can be easily broken. If she can't find a an adult to supervise then put it and any toys your kids care about away.

 

[Shutterbug]

If they don't...it could be mayhem.

Mayhem ....I sense a new Allstate commercial

I'm a party of 8 year old boys......crash, smash, explosions...