Name: Susie
Partying with Minors #2
Yesterday, we hosted a mystery party to celebrate LG's 10th birthday, coming up on Wednesday. If I weren't suffering the effects of days of insomnia, compounded by having had said party, I would attempt to tell you all about it. But, since I am sleep-deprived and not at all confident in my ability to string words together, I think I'll just show you some pictures.
The party theme was "The Mystery of the Missing Necklace." All guests were advised ahead of time that they would be playing a role in the drama, and were given suggestions on how to dress their part. Most did so. We decorated with balloons (I LOVE balloons :) and with homemade "crime scene tape," including across our front door:
Today, most of the crime scene tape has been taken down. However, I have left it across the powder room mirror. I told you, I haven't slept in days; "CAUTION CRIME SCENE" is absolutely what belongs across my mirror :(
We got started just a little late, because Ivanna's Daddy couldn't find our house even though we gave him directions. They kept driving by, until finally some of the party went outside (20 degrees!) to wave them down:
The girls were told about the theft of the Princess's necklace, then introduced to the suspects:
And thoroughly briefed by Daisy Diamond (aka LG Fairchild), ace girl detective:
Each girl had a separate script/booklet, with clues to share with the other guests. They listened attentively to one another, even taking notes, like good detectives do:
Some of the most fun clues were the singing ones:
Even Biscuit played a part. A big part, actually. He was "Bandit," the dog, who turned out to be the criminal. Not surprising; he's very bad. Some of you will be pleased to note that I did cut him some eyeholes for the occasion, so you can just stop complaining:
After the mystery was solved, I asked the detectives to strike a pose (yes, you are seeing more than I ever show, I'm comfy with this much today):
Next, it was time for cake. I am no cake decorator. But my kid really wanted me to home-make her cake this year, and for her, I have been known to do things that I cannot actually do:
And yes, if you are a good detective, you will learn something here that has never before been revealed on this site ;)
During the food part of the party, I was introduced to some new "Olympic Sports:"
Cake diving . . . 
Ice cream diving . . .
And cheese cutting . . . no, seriously, the kid says, "Mrs. Fairchild, take a picture of me cutting the cheese!"
The party ended with some very enjoyable "freeze dancing:"
And all the guests left with a gift from us, a detective's fingerprint kit:
This is one of the weird things about LG's mama. It is sometimes difficult, having an "only" and not raising her to feel entitled (I try not to use the word, "spoiled"), and I want her to think of parties as being times to enjoy the company of friends, not just to get more things and stuff. So I try to make sure that guests go home with more than what they brought.
Overall, this party was a huge hit. I would recommend that mystery website to anyone looking for party ideas. And this one was much easier on the grown-ups than last year's!
Thanks for coming! Now, please don't wish the child any wishes until Wednesday, when I'm sure I will write about her again! She is already milking this birthday like crazy. A family party will take place next weekend. I really can't imagine where she got the idea that everyone should just drop everything and comply with her every whim, just because it's her birthday ;)
posted by Susie | 6:09 AM
28 heads are better than one . . .
Hooray for detectives! Let's see - what was revealed here that you never mentioned before and you said it around the birthday cake. Hmm.
OH! You draw a mean magnifying glass! That's it, isn't it? I'm so right and you know it.
I will without happy happy joy joy LG wishes until Wednesday.
Looks like a most excellent party! Thanks for sharing the pics with us.
Your LG won't be an LG for much longer, Susie!
Did she cut her hair???? That long beautiful hair! Oh....10 is just growing up too fast. I'm sure by the time Audrey is 10, the hair that I'm so patiently trying to help her grow out will be gone too.
And wow, you did reveal a lot today, not just her face :)
Great pictures! Great party! Maybe you should get some sleep now before you start revealing everything. (From what I can see, your LG looks like she's got a lot of you in her.)
That looks like so much fun. Maybe I should do this for my birthday. Seriously.
Aw, 'Lily' was almost Sophie's name! Long story short, we (my parents included) thought my grandmother's real name was 'Lillian' and in my hormone-induced craziness I couldn't just name her 'Lily' (everyone called my grandma 'Lil') so I decided on Sophie...come to find out, the name on her birth certificate was 'Lily'.
Oh, the tears I cried over that one!
Happy, happy birthday, LG!
Those girls look like they had a blast - and I'm including Biscuit in the "girls" category because, well, he is a gay transvestite.
I won't say HB to LG until Wednesday. At least, I'll try to hold out. Be strong, Jim!
jim, that's it! And how much do I love you, for recognizing that it IS, in fact, a magnifying glass that I was attempting there :)
sharkey, I know :( I can't stand it, she's going much too fast.
andrea, she did, indeed. That's her call now. And it grows back, you know ;) so I try not to stress over that :)
karen, thank you, and I was thinking the same thing . . . loose lips or some such, when I'm so sleep-deprived. We were just saying tonight, she used to be my mini-me; she looks more and more like her daddy. Right now, just the eye color and shape are still me :)
kranki for real, there are a lot of adult games (not porn games, you know what I mean) on that site. I was happy to find one that dealt in necklace-napping, rather than murder for the littles, but there are some good murder mystery games there, too :)
candace, well, Sophie is a beautiful name. We had a tiny bit of family drama because many of the family are of a persuasion that believes everyone must have a "saint's name." They wanted Lillian. I never did; I just wanted the flower. Guess who won?
Oh wow... Ms. Fairchild, you are now hired as for all my kids' parties. We'll have them at my house, and Bio-Mom will make the cake, but you're in charge of the rest, mmmkay? I promise you a present...
It looks like they had a blast! Heaven only knows where she got that idea about birthdays... *rolling my eyes*
Smooches to you all! (but no birthday wishes yet!)
Did the girls sleep-over. I didn't re-read last year's party as I've read it fairly recently. I know why you didn't sleep last year. I guess I am kinda surprised by what you left in the pictures in this one. I hope you don't end up changing your mind and deleting this post or the pictures, Mrs. Fairchild. :-)
Thanks for sharing this lovely piece of your life with us.
bucky! I missed you there! You are so right; when LG has friends over, Biscuit is definitely one of the girls.
ck, you make me laugh. Yes, she and I both have our little . . . obnoxialities? heeheeee You know, I LOVE doing kid parties, I really do. Maybe that will be a 3rd career for me. No, I guess it would be a 4th. I've already made a commitment here to tour my gigantic ass as um an "attraction..." for my next career. CK, I need some sleep :(
squirl, no sleep-over this time, thank God. No, I'm just going through one of my occasional insomnia things. It sucks, but it happens a few times a year, I don't know why. (Aside to anyone who would diagnose me: DON'T GO THERE.) I think I'm OK with these pix. I know what my kid looks like (obviously), and while these are representative, certainly, they're not the BEST likenesses of her. I'll read that tomorrow and see whether it makes any sense ;)
The magnifying glass is quite recognizable as an instrument used for mystery solving. After producing a lovely cake like that, well, no wonder you are tired. And then to be hostess with the mostest for a really cool party, oh yeah, you had a big weekend.
There's a series of books by Barbara Delinsky which take place in a small town. The mother's name is Rose, and her daughters all have flower names. Iris and Poppy come to mind, and maybe Lily and Daisy? It's been awhile since I read them.
IMHO, and purely for literary pursuits, using letters LG is fine for telling us about the young Miss Fairchild. It is in keeping with the theme of the mystery party.
Oh my, do you guys know how to throw a party or what!!! looks like they were having a blast(biscuit included). glad it was easier on the grown-up's this year, too :)
LOL @ cutting the cheese-ah, thats good comedy right there :D
Hoping you get some sleep soon. I'm having the same problem lately, too. its not fun at all :(
That cake looks awesome. What an awesome idea for a party all Encyclopedia Brown and what not. Lg looks a lot like you and I love her name.
I also think it is very cool that you want parties to be about spending time with friends. Most parents would not think of it that way. I hope I can be that thoughtful when it is my kid's party.
Hey Susie, you rock. What a great Mom you are. Not that it's news or anything... I'm just saying.
BTW My birthday is in January... that gives you plenty of time to adopt me. Don't you need a 35 year old Canadian for a daughter. I won't cut my hair... promise. :)
mrsDoF, thanks; your comment makes me smile :)
dawn, oh, I'm sorry; it really sux, doesn't it? Somewhere I have a poem about all the insomniacs just leaving their houses and meeting up in a park or some such . . . I'll have to track that down . .. maybe I'll see you at the park ;)
william, you always say the nicest things. Thank you for that.
shoshie, I like the "kind face." I have heard that her name and mine are the same in Hebrew. Is this true? I told you I will make you a cake, faster than you can say "patty-cake." Oh, gosh, I think if I had those damned soul ballads, I'd be dreaming right now. I can't get anyone to sing to me, Shoshie. I think I'll turn the TV on and order those suckers from . .. Peabo Bryson, I think it is ;)
august, we can have a double party next year ;) I am very open to adoption. A 35-year-old Canadian could work just fine.
Oh, I feel so HONORED to see her face and learn her name! And she looks SO MUCH like a friend of mine. Perhaps you know her? One Miss Susie Fairchild.
The Mystery Party is SUCH a fun idea. And I love that you sent all the girls home with gifts. The Drama Queen's recent (9th) birthday party was slightly similar, with the gift-giving. I bought a bunch of fun, girly stuff (mostly on ebay), and we had a Chinese gift exchange. (And only one of the 8 or 9 girls got mad when someone "stole" her gift. I call that a success!)
I'll refrain from wishing any wishes until tomorrow, except for wishing YOU a peaceful day, a restful night, and much love, hugs and prayers.
Crime scene tape across the mirror! Ho ho har de har har.
This appears to have been a super party. Nice going, Susie.
mrtl, I'm thinking of you all the time, with love and the tiniest bit of envy ;) You're the master of the birthday party -- you and Bug have one every other day, it seems :)
ladybug, thank you, you're too sweet. Can't little girls be horrid sometimes, about who gets what? Big girls, too :) Not that we would know anything about anything like that.
hoss, thank you :) I STILL have the crime scene tape on the mirror. It just suits me, I think ;)
Oh wow, in my flu haze I forgot the great bond we share, that nyquil is a B.I.T.C.H. That would be perfect. A double super duper Birthday party for us. Squirl can bring the brownies and Greenie can make us some foodie delight for our day.
Wow! You sure do know how to host a birthday party! What a very cool mom you are.
Beautiful cake! I cant bake to save my life- i'll have to enlist you for the next bd party I have for the boys!
Susie and August, I would bring brownies and rum cake. :-)
My word ver is dustiitv Dusty TV?
Hey, who plays that thar piano, anyhow?
What fun! Susie, you rock. That is the kind of thing that a kid NEVER forgets! Love the pics, Love the hat with the flower and the room signs. Awesome.
AWESOME!
nikki, I love to do themed parties, for grown-ups, too. I will make Shoshie a cake. Or I will share Squirl's rum cake with her. Lots of rum and cake might be good, right now.
august, I was wondering about you ;) We can definitely plan a big blow-out for next year :)
lawbrat, aw, thanks. I have never done a little boy party. I would like to give it a try sometime, though.
squirl, we might need a cake sooner -- for Shoshie. Heavy on the rum, too.
bucky, LG and I play WITH the piano, meaning we make feeble attempts at teaching ourselves. I took lessons as a child, and LG has taken lessons a little bit; we both want to take more. In the meantime, we play around with it, almost daily. I am teaching myself the songs from O Brother :)
amy thanks! That is so sweet. I hope she remembers . .. and I hope I do, too, when I'm old and in the home . .. good times :)
Wow! What a great party! I wish I’d had one like that for my sons! I wish I’d had one like that for myself!
It's Wednesday, so...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LG!
Play some Soggy Bottom Boys for your girl, Susie. :)
That party looks like it was a blast! What a fun idea! You did a great job on the cake, too.
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