Saturday, October 24, 2009

Preparing For The Party

I've been in denial for months now about the planning for Moana's Birthday Party. I'm just not a natural party planner- that would have been a really bad profession for me. Anyway, the fact that I ignored it for so long didn't make it go away, so little by little I did start planning.

The weekend before Kona we picked the place (our friend's backyard in Kailua) and the morning before Moana and I flew to the Big Island I sent out the invitations. That was pretty much all I did until today, and the party is tomorrow!

Did you know that Costco is like the worst place to be on a Saturday morning? I never knew that, but that's because I'm usually out riding my bike on a Saturday morning. Regardless, consider yourself warned. Stay away from Costco on a Saturday. I suppose the same could be said for Sunday, but I have no first hand experience with that. Just a guess.

All I can say is that it's a good thing I got my fix in this morning before attempting to maneuver that big cart through the warehouse floor. Had I not gotten sloshed around in the Pacific Ocean for an hour first, I might have really lost it before even getting the chance to pick out any of the prepared party food in bulk.

My vision for Moana's party was that it would just be a small gathering of some of our closest friends, and those who Moana interacts with regularly. We'd just spend a couple hours in someone's backyard, maybe pick at some simple finger foods, then everyone would go home after watching Moana make a mess of herself with some birthday cake.

Scott's vision was different. He wanted all of his friends to be there. He wanted a whole array of local Hawaiian food. He wanted a band. 1st Birthdays are a really big deal here in Hawaii and people really go all out planning such things.

So it appears now that we are each going to get a bit of what we envisioned. There will likely be more people there than I'd anticipated because Scott got on the horn this morning and invited old friends whose addresses he couldn't find in time to mail an invitation. And apparently, while I was out getting sloshed around in the Pacific this morning, he found some local guys to come and play slack-key guitar tomorrow. And while I was ramming my oversized grocery cart through the oversized aisles buying oversized bags of pita chips, he was arranging for a local restaurant to supply that local kalua pig he wants. I told him that nobody actually eats that stuff, and he said that was fine. It's his daughter's first birthday party and by god, we're going to have kalua pig.

So there you have it. We'll have baked pita chips and pasta salad... and we'll also have kalua pig and beer. Most of Moana's close friends will be there, and others will come and meet her for the first time. Slack key guitarists will play while Moana discovers cake with her bare hands. And we'll take lots of pictures for the blog.

17 comments:

Beach Mom said...

Well you are in Hawaii and her name is Moana, you're kind of obligated to have slack key and kalua pig at her Baby Luau! Consider yourself lucky he didn't get a bouncy house and pinata. Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Moana! P.S. I haven't been to Walmart or Costco in ages. Walmart is ALWAYS crowded, even at 9 at night (which I tried one time to avoid the crowds).

Allison Chapple said...

We're having Baker's party today too! Just lowkey with family (25 people), hotdogs and hamburgers. Hope you have a wonderful time!!

Running and living said...

Well, in a couple of years Moana will tell YOU what SHE wants for her birthday. I believe the first birthday kind of belongs to the parents, from there on, kids take charge. Happy Bday!

Clare said...

can NEVER let me husband read this post. if he knew bands and pigs were standard for 1st bdays, i'd be in serious trouble...he has serious keeping up with the jones's issues regarding andra's party!

Big Daddy Diesel said...

How fun a Bday party, Happy Bday Moana!!!


Costco, Tuesdays at an hour before they close is usually a good time, pretty empty at mine at that time.

GetBackJoJo said...

Happy Birthday, Moana! I'm glad it will be a larger fiesta! Have a great time! You all have a lot to celebrate!
I want a pic. of the pig.

Regina said...

oh yeah, the first birthday. we did it up big and haven't had another since. Now I wait for my son to ask for one.

Costco on the weekend at any time is an exercise in patience and a sure measure of your sanity.

Happy Birthday Moana!!

cherelli said...

Ah yes, COSTCO on a Saturday morning. Reason for the crowds? All those food samplers they put out. When we first got here and discovered COSTCO, Brett would push the big trolley around while I'd be trailing saying "Wait, I'm sure there were chocolate truffle samplers around here somewhere - I'll catch up to you!"
Happy Birthday to Moana, I hope the party is lots of fun.

N.D. said...

Avoid grocery stores in general, especially COSTCO! sounds like a fun bash coming up! I'm already nervous about Nick's 1st!

Relentless Forward Commotion said...

aww Happy first birthday Moana! It's bittersweet, huh mommy!?!

RunningMama said...

Glad I'm not the only one that has been struggling to decide what type of bday party to have. Sounds like you guys are going to have a great time and I totally cracked up at the kalua pig concept!! Totally Hawaiian, right?? Glad to see you survived the perils of Costco. Friday NIGHTS are the best time to go!

X-Country2 said...

You couldn't pay me enough to go to CostCo or Sams ever. You're a brave woman.

Happy birthday Moana!

GoBigGreen said...

Happy Birthday Moana! I wishi could send her a giant cupcake:)

Beth said...

Happy birthday Moana!!! I can't wait to see the pictures. And I'm sure you planned a fine party (although trust me, I feel for you - I SUCK at planning stuff like that :)

Mnowac said...

Can't wait to see the pics! The good thing about Costco on Sat is the samples!

Sara said...

Congrats on making it a whole year AND for throwing a great party :-) Sara (and us of course) had a great time!!