When we first started talking about Greenleigh’s birthday party a few months ago, she said that she wanted to have it at a park. After doing the research, I found out that it was going to cost me $175 for the pavilion + a deposit + food + entertainment + everything else to do it at a park, so I vetoed that option. I felt bad doing it, but I just couldn’t justify the expense. Because at $175 for the venue alone, we were going to be talking about a near 4 digit party. At a park. No, just no. Erajh and I did our best to talk up having the party at our house, but we just couldn’t get her excited about the idea. And honestly, the idea of scrubbing the house from top to bottom to host yet another party (just 4 weeks after Hazeline’s party), just wasn’t appealing to me.
And then around the end of January, we were invited to a Chuck E Cheese birthday party. It was kinda awesome. In February, we were invited to another Chuck E Cheese party, and the girls had a blast again. So I wasn’t shocked when Greenleigh asked for a Chuck E Cheese party of her own. It just made sense.
But internally, I groaned. Because in my head, I wanted a pretty party, full of fabulous food, amazing decorations, and small touches. Something truly Pinterest-worthy. Chuck E Cheese didn’t seem to fit that. In fact, I almost felt as if planning a party there was too easy; like I was mailing it in. But Greenleigh? All she wanted was tokens and pizza and prizes and a guitar balloon that she could play with Chuck E Cheese himself during the birthday show. After going back and forth for what seemed like forever, I finally gave in. Our Chuck E Cheese’s birthday was booked online in a matter of minutes (and with an additional 20 tokens for booking online!) and invites were sent out.
The day of the party, I got up, had a leisurely breakfast, put together the goody bags, took a shower and off we went. No last minute crafting. No last minute food pick-ups. No cleaning. It. Was. Fabulous. The fun began the minute we got to Chuck E Cheese and didn’t end until long after our official party end time passed. When we left…and I didn’t have to clean up.
Of course, I did get a few Pinteresty details here and there – at Greenleigh’s request we had Doc McStuffins invitations, cake, and goody bags. While it’s totally possible to have a Doc McStuffins themed birthday party at Chuck E Cheese, we left most of the particulars up to Chuck E.
So there it is, I not only invited a mouse to my daughters 5th birthday, I let him host it. And, honestly, I kinda liked loved it.
Good to know! We’re having my son’s 6th birthday party there in a few weeks. I’m rather looking forward to just bringing cupcakes and being all set after that.
What a FUN birthday party!!! You are such a fun mom!!
So as a kid, we had no chuck e cheese. I’ve only been as an adult. THERE WAS NO MOUSE! I WAS GYPPED!
I’ve only been to Chuck E. Cheese once. My boys ask to go alllllll the time. LOL! Darn those commercials! 😉 Glad she had a blast! Super cute cake, too!
Looks like fun! My son has been very curious about that particular Mouse lately!
It looks like Greenleigh had a wonderful time. Best of all it looks like you had a great time too! I’m thinking we will do something very similar for Mia. Although it will be hard to not have all of the Pinteresty details.
Looks like a wonderful time! Birthdya parties can be so stressful sometimes and yet it can be so easy if we let it be. My only problem with Chuck E Cheese is that my son is TERRIFIED of the mouse. He knows it’s just a costume, but the last time we went, he was so afraid he had to go outside everytime Chuck E walked the floor -_-