1st birthday party freak out

[7costanza]

My little guy's birthday party is next weekend and I'm starting to get nervous. We are going to have 30-35 ( ) people at our house for a mid-day BBQ. Does all this sound ok? Am I missing anything? I'm trying to keep it fairly simple so I can enjoy it and not be running around before and during the party. 

Menu:
hamburgers/hot dogs/veggie burgers
potato salad
chips & dip
baked beans
green salad
rolls (maybe? do I need these?)
veggie/fruit trays
Costco sheet cake/ice cream

root beer keg (& ice cream for floats)
various sodas (48 cans, 12 each Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, lemonade)
bottled water
beer

Activities:
that lawn ladder ball game (for the adults)
water table (should I empty the water?)
sidewalk chalk
bubbles
swing

I bought napkins, plates, cutlery, and plastic cups for the root beer from Costco. No real theme, I just bought a ton of bright, primary color decorations (streamers, a flag banner, happy birthday banner, table cloths, lanterns and tissue paper balls to hang outside, small balloons). We have a huge deck and big yard so hopefully the weather is nice so everyone isn't crammed inside. 

How many seats, both inside and outside, do you think I need to have? I may need to rent chairs... what else am I missing?

[ilovebed]

Sounds like you have it all planned out! My only concern is who is going to be grilling? Everything else you can do before hand or put in a crock pot. I just had the same size crowd to my house for Blb's 2nd birthday and had the same freak out. But it all went great. People entertain themselves and are occupied with their own babies.
I ordered pizza to be delivered though bc I didn't want to be cooking during the party.

[jennlin]

i don't think you need rolls in addition to the bread that will be with your burgers/dogs..most people omit buns, as-is, and also prep for double-burgers, since a lot of people prefer that.

i'd keep the water in the table, that will keep the kids occupied. how many "older" kids will there be? at the last party i went to, there was a 6 yo that helped fill the water table whenever the 2-4 yr olds splashed everything out...it was conveniently located next to the hose.

more bubbles than you think you'd need. i just had a party with 12 kids aged 5-15...i assumed the 5yo's wouldn't spill...but they do. they went through 2 gallon jugs in a span of 2 hours? if it's not too late, you can the no-spill buckets from target.

i don't know if it's the same at your parties--but nobody ever touches the potato salad. i mean--we might get a couple bites, but for the most part, nobody eats it. pasta salad is usually more popular, and easier to make, too.

good luck, and happy bday, baby7!

[7costanza]

Thank you for the tips! My H is going to man the grill. I actually wanted to just have it catered by a local BBQ place, but he asked that we do our own food so he can have a job and not be forced to mingle, which he hates.

Good point about the potato salad, now that I think about it pasta salad is usually more popular, plus Costco has a good one I can pick up the day before. I'll skip the rolls too.

We don't have a ton of kids going, a few babies, a few toddlers and I think two pre-schoolers. I only have a couple bottles of bubbles, so I'll pick up one of those buckets at Target this weekend.

[jennlin]

oh and seating---35 adults? i'd shoot for about 25 seats (you can count couch space)...less if you're going to be outside. there's always people who prefer to stand/mingle and then if they're outside, you can always sit on the grass too...there'll be people chasing kids, etc.

[Deleted]

Jul 11, 2014 14:06:05 GMT -5 jennlin said:

oh and seating---35 adults? i'd shoot for about 25 seats (you can count couch space)...less if you're going to be outside. there's always people who prefer to stand/mingle and then if they're outside, you can always sit on the grass too...there'll be people chasing kids, etc.

In which case, maybe have two or three picnic blankets?

[dana86]

We are doing M's 1/2 bday next weekend and you are far more prepared than I am lol. I really should get on it but there has been so much crap that I just haven't been able to get excited about it like I was.