An Introvert's Guide to Surviving Kids Birthday Parties

Being an introvert can be difficult at times. Then throw in being and introvert and a mom! Alone time is my jam. It's how I recharge. But my kids have friends, friends they like, friends they want to party with. And honestly, so do I. But it can be the most exhausting when I'd prefer lounging in my jammies, playing Candy Land and Legos all day.

Now please don't get me wrong here, I love kiddo birthdays! I really do love celebrating little lives. But often celebrating little lives includes monstrous birthday parties (for reals though, these parties are getting huge). It's almost always overwhelming. And often the birthday kid has friends from all over. Ie: dance friends, baseball friends, school friends, family friends, etc. I generally know little to no one and it can be extra awkward for an introvert.

But guess what? I've almost got it figured out! The key to survival!

An Introvert's Guide to Surviving Kids Birthday Parties

Time of Arrival

It can be pretty nerve racking walking into an already hopping party with 20+ kids in a firetruck themed bounce house and small groups of parents scattered, already in full conversation. To avoid awkwardness, arrive early. Then if you need to duck out early, it's totally acceptable. Or arrive late, when the party games have already started and no small talk is needed to fill time.

Extra Child

If possible, bring an extra child with you. The smallest of them if you have one on hand. I have a toddler who is always invited to her big sister's friend's birthday parties. She's extra shy and hates almost all children (except K's friend G) so she hangs out with me. If I'm not being social, it's acceptable because I am hanging out with E who has super RBF. 

Plus One

Expecting to know almost zero people at this birthday party? Bring your partner! I bring my husband so I have at least one person to talk to. It's actually kind of nice because while the kids are playing "Pin the nose on Olaf", I get a miniature date with my husband eating pizza, cheetos, and capri sun.

Eat Something

If my mouth is full of Bat Wings (Batman themed chicken wings), I don't have to engage in small talk. And small talk is difficult for introverts. And if my mouth isn't full, I can small talk food. 'Cause food is universal, especially Mickey Mouse hot diggity dogs. 

Play With the Tiny Party People

Have nothing in common with the moms (and dads) other than that you both had to wear mesh panties after birth? Play with the kiddos! They are a good time and a little game of Paw Patrol musical paws will go a long way.

Lend a Hand

Eaten your weight in Peppa Pig's muddy puddle pudding and not sure what to do from here, volunteer to help the birthday kid's parents. Take the photos/video, be in charge of playing Moana songs on loop, or hold a baby. I'm most fond of holding someone's baby.


And there you have it! Introverts, you CAN survive birthday parties!

I really hope my friends that read this aren't offended. Our family loves you and your kids and we hope we're still invited to party with you. I'm just an introvert who may eat a ton of Elena of Avalor's 7 layer dip. Please keep inviting us, my kids will have a blast and I will do my best to be brave. 

Easter When You're 2 and 5

Another awesome holiday in the books blog!

When you're 2 and 5, you have a wonderful Easter filled with egg hunts, hamster balls, tiny new friends, Jesus, annual church service celebrity sightings, big boys, and more candy than you can count.

You also ask A LOT of questions: "Where does the Easter Bunny live?", "Does he shop at Target?", "Did Jesus have a beard?", "Why did they put Him on a cross?", and many more. You are also totally satisfied with your mom's answers.

When you're 2 and 5, your mom signs you up for what seems like the most awesome egg hunt in all of Los Angeles. But then she hears THE most terrifying stories of parents knocking kids over and stealing the eggs out of other children's baskets. What in the world? Parents, you are fighting over tiny pieces of candy. Not a free iphone 7+ knuckleheads!

So when you're 2 and 5 and scared of blood, and would likely see blood at this egg hunt, she takes you to Oak Park where people are fancy and civilized and you get to spend time with your granny, aunt, and cousin. And when you're 5, you get to do the egg hunt alone, and go in a hamster ball. 

When you're 2 and 5, you are the most obsessed with Easter egg dying. Your mom is the only one who eats them though so she only let's you do a dozen. But buys extra kits to dye eggs all summer long. 

When you're 2 and 5, you are the most tired when your parents wake you up at 8am but when your parents say the Easter Bunny came, you totally jump out of bed. 'Cause when you're 2 and 5, you get lots of sweets and treats, and legos, and blind bags, and playdoh, and Water Wows, and your favorite movie stuffed animals, and your favorite movie sound tracks! 'Cause the Easter Bunny knows your mom is the most tired of listening to the Trolls soundtrack for 4 months straight. 

pinterest fail.

When you're 2 and 5 it's impossible to get to church on time. You're so late that your parents drive around for 30 minutes looking for parking. And so late that you have the only option of standing in the overflow building. But since you're 2 and 5 and standing that long would be torture, your parents decide to let you run around church grounds for several hours waiting for the next one. Also, when you're 2 and 5, you are super good at making friends while you wait.

Additionally, when you're 2 and 5, your parents have to keep a good eye on you so they miss their usual celebrity sighting (Gwen Stefani). But it's okay because they see someone who will likely become way more famous than her, Therese Curatolo. Who is a celebrity to you, because she just got cast in a Rockwell show, sings with Stevie Wonder, and is a super good friend of your parents. Then after church, because you're 2 and 5 (and live in Los Angeles), you insist on having an Easter outfit photo shoot.

When you're 2 and 5 and your favorite restaurant isn't open, you go to your second favorite restaurant, Bob's Big Boy.

When you're 2 and 5 and have the most wonderful Easter, you hope everyone else had one too! Your mom on the other hand is the most angry at the Easter Bunny who put grass in the baskets. Seriously though, what was he thinking?! 

Happy Easter from the Simpsons!

Simpson's Spring Bucket List 2017

Happy first day of Spring...3 weeks ago! We missed out on doing something super spring-y on the first day because well, pneumonia. Unfortunately, we are still dealing with many sniffles and coughs so we're getting a bit of a late start on our Spring Bucket List.

This Spring is extra special and emotional for me because it's Kenley's last spring at home before she starts Kindergarten. Aaahhh! Eleanor will still be at home to go on adventures with, but Kenley will only be able to join in on the weekends. And weekends are crowded and less fun and usually more expensive. Hoping this Spring is the best, because Kenley is the best! Oh, and Eleanor is the best too.

Most of these are in and around Los Angeles but I'm sure you can find a duck wherever you are located.

Simpson's Spring Bucket List 2017

1. Feed Some Ducks - Apparently the best place for this is at Cal State Northridge. Please also note, NO feeding the ducks at Lake Balboa!

2. Lake Balboa Paddle Boats - We've been to Lake Balboa a million times but this is the first year Eleanor will be able to go on a paddle boat!

3. Go on a Hike - Last year we learned that Kenley is deathly afraid of bugs and I am deathly afraid of snakes. Who knew?! Hoping this year we can brave the great outdoors.

4. Huntington Gardens - The most beautiful gardens in all of Los Angeles with the cutest garden for kids.

5. Descanso Gardens - Another fun garden with a children's maze, train ride, storytime, and a hidden stage that my artsy fartsy kids like to perform shows on.

6. Underwood Family Farms Easter Festival - If you've never been, you only have a few days left! See last weeks BLOG POST about my tips and tricks and why you must go.

7. Kidspace - An awesome kids museum in Pasadena. We haven't been in years and I'm dying to see the new Arroyo Adventure exhibit.

8. Caterpillar Adoption - We didn't do this last year because Kenley was afraid bugs. All the bugs. Even the cute fuzzy colorful ones. Hopefully this year will be better. You can get caterpillars at Kidspace.

9. LACMA Rain Room - The Rain Room is back! It's basically a magic room that rains but not on you. What? I must see this magic with my own eyes.

10. Los Angeles Flower Market - A million rows with a million flowers for less than a million dollars. See HERE.

11. Fly a Kite - This one is tricky because there aren't many open spaces to fly a kite in our neighborhood. Maybe we'll make a janky one again that the kids can drag.

12. Mini Golf - I just love mini golf. Good old fashion family fun! Our favorite mini golf place is Castle Park.

13. Egg Hunt - I signed the kids up for Burbank's Spring Egg-Stravaganza and am a little stressed out about it. You have to sign up months in advance and the time I wanted was all sold out so if we go it's going to be very early. And I keep hearing horror stories of violent parents so perhaps we'll pick a small church one this year.

14. Egg Dying - Easter isn't Easter without dying eggs! Even if I am the only one who likes eating them hard boiled.

15. The Getty - My favorite thing at The Getty is picnicking while the kids tumble down hills.

16. Scooter Down the Chandler Bike Path - A long, 3 mile path through Burbank that I know my kids will just die for.

17. Grow Flowers - Apartment living is tricky. We can't have a garden but we are able to grow small little plants in the windows. Fyi - you can get $1-5 little kits at Target!

18. Wildlife Learning Center - According to friends that have been, it's super cool but not worth the money for how small it is. But I saw a Groupon! Perhaps we'll give it a whirl so my city kids can see an armadillo.

19. Museum of Ice Cream - Oh my gosh you guys, I am SO excited for this one! I had a few friends go when it was in New York and I was the most jealous. A pool full of sprinkles?! My kids are going to freak out! It's only here for about 6 weeks so get your tickets NOW. Once people start hearing about it, it's going to sell out. 


And that's it! I think it's fairly do-able! Most are free or cheap or have discounted days (excluding the Museum of Ice Cream) and I've got until June to get 'em done. 'Cause when Summer hits, you know we'll be living at the beach and splash pads.

Pictures from previous adventures from the above Bucket List:

Kite building 2015

Lake Balboa 2015

Hike to the Old Zoo 2016

Huntington Gardens' kids garden secret door 2016

Descanso Gardens 2016

Underwood Family Farms attempted sibling  photo 2016

Caterpillar Adoption 2015

Mini Golf attempted Family Selfie 2016

Eleanor's First Egg Hunt (Oak Park, CA) 2015

Kenley's first time "dying" eggs 2012

Why Underwood Family Farms is the Best (Plus My Professional Tips)

It's that time of year again! The time of year when I want to own every single baby animal that lives on a farm. EVERY SINGLE ONE!

Earlier this week we went on our semi annual trip to Underwood Family Farms. It's super awesome, and the best, and I'm so happy we found out about it years ago so my city kids can experience a world completely different than their own. We are really into museums, but we are also really into baby cows. Which Kenley still wants to hold. One day K, one day...

Oh, you want to go to the farm too? Of course you do! Wait, you don't? What is wrong with you? Let me tell you why Underwood is the best, and some tips for your next visit. Which better be soon because the Easter festival ends April 17th.

Why Underwood Family Farms is the Best 

(Plus My Professional Tips):

Reason #1 why it's the best - The farm is just a hop, skip, and a jump outside of Los Angeles. Got kids that fall asleep in the car? No worries! It's less than an hour away, even with traffic!

Tips #1-3 - Go on a weekday, it's cheaper. There are more activities on the weekends, but if you have kids who have never gone on a weekend, they will never know! The activity tickets you buy, can be used forever. No really, you can take your grand kids in 30 years and they will still work. Wear pants or bring lots of band-aids. All that farm foliage (foliage? is that what you call farm "stuff"?) is gonna tear you up. There is always at least one bloody causality when we go. 

Animal Feeding

Reason #2 why it's the best - You can literally feed every animal you could ever dream of on a farm. And if you go during the spring, BABY ANIMALS! BABIES YOU GUYS! Gimme one.

Tip #4 - Bring quarters to purchase the farm food treats.

Pony Rides

Reason #3 why it's the best - The pony rides here are extra long. And pony rides in generally are extra fun. Plus the ponies get breaks and swap out with other ponies so you know they are well cared for.

Tip #5 - The pony rides are extra popular because, ponies. So go here first. 

Mini Electric Tractors

Reason #4 why it's the best - Your kid can live out their dream of one day driving a tractor on a farm in rural America. Oh, that's not their dream? They can live out their dream of driving a tractor into their sibling.

Tip #6 - This activity requires coins, not tickets, that you must purchase at the entrance. 

Haystack Mountain and Combine Slide

Reason #5 why it's the best - Because you get to slide down a combine! (unfortunately it was broken the day we went) Also, doesn't every kid like playing king or queen of the mountain and sing/act out Katy Perry music videos when they get to the top? Oh, it's just my kids?

Tip #7 - The slide is bumpy and fast and I've seen blood and tears so get band-aids handy. You've been warned. But it's fun, so let them risk it!

Easter Labyrinth

Reason #6 why it's the best - I don't know why it's the best, but my kids are really into it. And they like to pretend they are characters from the PBS show "Odd Squad" when running through.

Tip #8 - No tip, just fun times and it wears them out. 

Duck Races and other Easter-y Things

Reason #7 why it's the best - There is an entire section devoted to Easter Carnival like activities. We like the duck races and... you get to keep the duck! Year round bath time fun until it gets moldy and you have to visit the farm again.

Tip #9 - I suggest you let your kid pick one or two things from this area. No need to waste tickets on temporary tattoos when you can buy them at Target or face painting when you can come over to my place beforehand and I'll turn you into a baby Easter chick.

Petting Zoo

Reason #8 why it's the best - You get to pet BABY animals! 

Tip #10 - I've never done it, but for an extra cost, you can bottle feed the newborns! *Gasp!* Next year for sure. Gimme that duckling!

Wagons

Reason #9 why it's the best - You don't have to bring a stroller with you and you get your workout for the day. 

Tip #11 - Take a photo of your adorable children in one. Pile them all into one and take that photo every year until they are at least 14. 

Easter Bunny

Reason #10 why it's the best - The freaking Easter Bunny is at Underwood! Where his real vacation house is! Sometimes he visits the Americana in Glendale, but you have to pay an arm and a leg to meet him there.

Tip #12 - Bring a camera. You get to take your own pics!

Giant Easter Basket

Reason #11 why it's the best - It's the best Easter photo op in all of La La land. 

Tip #13 - Go here before your kids get cranky. Eleanor was not having it.

Bumblebee Train Ride

Reason #12 why it's the best - The train ride takes you on a tour of the farm, an actual working functional farm. And you get to ride in a bumblebee!

Tip #14 - Most kids love love love this so much that it's an awesome thing to do last. Bribes work great. "If you follow the rules and are nice to your sister and don't throw her off the giant haystack or pelt her with a giant fake egg, we can go on the train ride before we go home."

Don't all my reasons and tips (and photos) make you want to HOP on over there right now?! Get to it! You don't even need a full tank of gas Angelenos!

See you next year Underwood! 

Preview years' Underwood Blogs:

2016 Harvest Festival

2016 Easter Festival

2015 Easter Festival (one photo)