I have NO idea why I thought a hotel sleepover party for Kendall and 3 other little girls would be cheaper than her 37 kid swim party last year. It was not. In fact, this party may go down in history as one of Kendall's most expensive birthday parties ever.
I decided on the Westin Galleria because it was (a) very close to home in case we got kicked out, (b) in walking distance to the American Girl Doll Store, and (c) attached to a mall. In the end, we couldn't get reservations for the AG cafe and no one ever left the room except to get ice. Technically, the festivities could've been held at the Motel 6 with very little difference aside from cost.
But it was by far the most fun I'VE had at one of Kendall's parties ... and that's what's important, right? The 3 girls we invited may or may not have been hand picked based on a "cool mom" quotient that was heavily weighted in the decision making process. When we went to bed, the four moms made a drunken pact solemn vow to have this exact same party at least 3 more times during this year. But perhaps at the Motel 6 next time.
Kendall and I got there early to check into our two adjoining rooms and to set up for our guests.
Kendall decorated the party favor bags herself.
(party favors for the moms)
Cupcake cake #2. The Georgia O'Keefe-esque qualities did not escape me but Kendall thought it was pretty and I was desperate because cupcake cake #1 was dropped upside down just before we left the house.
We had a pretty cool view!
When the other girls arrived (left to right: Maddie, Kendall, Silke, Alana), Kendall gave them their party favors which were matching nighties and birthday tiaras.
And the mom's started pouring.
Then the moms retired to the adjoining room and pretended the "blue spot" girls were not jumping from bed to bed.
There were a few brief moments of quiet and at some point the Chick-fil-a nuggets, fruit bowl, and veggie tray were attacked. Ok, the veggie tray maybe not so much attacked as "noticed and ignored." Gifts were also opened when I wasn't in the room.
Then cupcake cake #2 was dropped upside down. Out of its box.
At this point in the evening, no one minded eating off the floor.
Until the foot went into the frosting.
The gifts were all opened in the absence of the adults. There were no candles lit. There was no singing of Happy Birthday. I'm pretty sure at one point the girls came in to tell the moms we needed to keep it down when we were standing on the beds singing "Look at me I'm Sandra Dee" from Grease. We all went to bed around 11:30, each girl with her respective mom. My child vehemently rejected this arrangement until the very end.
Kendall woke up at 6:30 the next morning. This was ok with nobody. By 7, she'd gotten the rest of us up and one of us figured out how to make coffee. Then we assessed the damage in the party room. Then we assessed the damage in the mom room. Four moms. Seven empty bottles of wine. I think one of them had even been ordered from room service. Impressive. I, for one, was thankful for my mid-morning nap and Kendall sleep for a good chunk of the afternoon. When I went to pour myself a class of wine at 5, my stomach lurched a bit and I put the bottle back in the fridge. Pretty sure that's never happened to me before.
We should probably avoid the Westin for a while just in case someone on the cleaning crew has a friend at CPS.
