Our daughter turned 16 this December and we threw a dance party. All her idea, but a lot of work for mom too. As I'm not the most organized person (understatement), it pretty much took all my extra time and energy (is there any during the holidays? or ever? hmmm). Anyway, I thought I'd eventually get cards out but let myself off the hook when December 25th came and went. There's always next year. Here is the birthday girl with the dime-store crown her friends put on her while they were all getting ready upstairs. She's out front with her bouncers...how cute are they? They really got into the roll, checking names and VIP passes and handing out glow sticks and necklaces.
Here is the front of the invite all the guests received. The details were on the back. She decided on a purple/silver/black theme and requested they "dress to impress". I thought that the kids wouldn't appreciate this, but actually they loved it. Even the boys wore ties ... so cute!
We moved all of the furniture out of the family room to create a dance floor, rented a helium tank and blew up about 2oo balloons, found strobe lights (Spencer's Gifts if you are in need -around $20.00) and she had her ipod blaring. It really did feel like a little club of sorts.
We adults were pleasantly surprised to see that all the kids danced and had fun. Here's the birthday girl with friend in the center getting the dancing started...
It didn't take but a minute to get them all going.
Hey wait...do I see two party crashers? I guess the bouncers were no longer worried about what was going on at the door. One too many pretty girls must have walked by. As you can see the big girls were sweet to the little guys, but the big boys were really sweet to them too. These two were in heaven.
After lots of dancing, there was cake and ice cream and then the party moved into the living room for a very large game of Catch Phrase.
Gee, do you think she had fun?
Of course she did. And you know what? We parent chaperons did too, much to my surprise.
It was quite a night to remember.
It reminds me of my disco party when I graduated high school (tells you how old I am). It was so much fun and I have never forgotten it....change the strobe lights for a disco ball and I am back in 1979 again! Your daughter is beautiful, she looks like you!
Happy New Year! karen....
Posted by: karen | December 31, 2008 at 10:48 PM
It looks like everyone had a blast. It sounds like a big undertaking just by reading your blog and seeing the photos. Oh, to be sixteen again. I hope you're able to get some much deserved rest.
Posted by: melissa m | December 31, 2008 at 10:48 PM
Oh sweet 16! Have a wonderful year full of fairytales and fancies.
Posted by: Laura Ingalls Gunn | December 31, 2008 at 10:48 PM
What a great idea for a party theme. It looks like everyone had a grand time.....I love the color scheme she picked so elegant. Happy Birthday!!
Posted by: Gabrielle | December 31, 2008 at 10:48 PM
How FUN! I would have ADORED my mom if she had thrown me such an awesome sweet 16 bash! She will always remember this...
Posted by: Heather | December 31, 2008 at 10:48 PM
Looks like the kids had a blast! What a wonderful memory for you and your daughter.
Posted by: Cathy Wegner | January 01, 2009 at 08:01 AM
What a good Mom you are! Lovely pictures.
Sending wishes for a happy New Year.
xoxo Nita
Posted by: nita | January 01, 2009 at 08:01 AM
Fabulous bash! Cast my vote for Mom (and Dad) of the Year! Really happy it went off as planned and that everyone -especially the Birthday Girl- had a great time. xoC
Posted by: charlotte | January 01, 2009 at 08:01 AM
awww what a cool mom you are! I have to ask... how bad was the aftermath (clean-up?)
and Ahem...thank you for getting me addicted to Anthro windows--I had NO idea (as I live in small town america where anthropologie does not exist--sob sob). I'm thinking of hosting a paper garland swap (also your doing--you bad bad bad influence you.)
:D Happy New Year Miz Pam
xoxs
Posted by: Miz Carla | January 01, 2009 at 08:01 AM
Oh Pammy,
What a clever girl you are, involving the boys with the party in such a positive and fun way. And truth be told your daughter is movie star beautiful, no wonder she has body guards !
Wishing you all the best health and happy creating in 2009
XoX paulette
Posted by: paulette adams | January 01, 2009 at 06:01 PM
Wow! I've never even seen this attempted. That's amazing! She looks like she's glowing she's so happy. Of course she's beautiful and I bet she's very thankful you put on this beautiful party for her. It looks like a prom.
Posted by: Angela Harris | January 02, 2009 at 08:31 AM
What a lucky girl she is to have family and friends who will do anything to make her day extra special, what a great idea!!! Great job mom and dad! Don't feel bad about the Christmas cards, mine went out on Dec. 30th, I forgot to take a picture of the kids together when the college boy was home at Thanksgiving and then he crashed at a friends house when Christmas break started, I didn't think he would ever come home! Finally after tricking him to come downstairs before we left for a weeklong trip I got it. Bigfoot poses better, I swear!
Happy New Year!
Posted by: carikraft | January 02, 2009 at 08:31 AM
Awesome! Wish that I had the "yes" in me to throw a party like that for my girls! She will treasure the memories forever, and she is stunningly beautiful, that inner glow and smile of her mom's, ahem.
Posted by: Juanita | January 03, 2009 at 11:52 AM
how fun! this took me right back to a dance party my sisters and I threw for all our friends when I was in high school. It was all girls and we had a blast goofing off. what a special birthday for your dear daughter. :)
Posted by: AnnaMae | January 03, 2009 at 11:52 AM
What a great party and great kids for getting into the spirit of it all. Love those VIP invites, cool idea!
Tricia
Posted by: Tricia Samsal | January 04, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Hey there! Happy Birthday Ali! Kendall is Oh So Jealous! I've only got 6 months before Kendall's sweet sixteen~ :) Dugie, you are lookin' FINE! Could you come out this summer and be a bouncer for Kendall? HUGS! Kathleen~
Posted by: Kathleen Hart | January 07, 2009 at 09:12 AM
How fun! I bet she'll always remember that! My daughter Lauren turned 16 on December 7th! My son is also a December baby (19th)!
Posted by: Cindy~My Romantic Home | January 14, 2009 at 07:16 PM
How fun! I love how all the girls are barefoot...why do we love shoes so much and always end up barefoot at parties!? LOL
Posted by: jennifer | January 16, 2009 at 02:11 PM
Looks like everyone had an awesome time...what wonderful parents you are, and your children (and young lady) are beautiful...Blessings!!!
Bevie
Posted by: Beverly A Sams | January 19, 2009 at 06:55 AM
What a fun, fun party!
Posted by: Alison Whittington | January 22, 2009 at 06:11 AM
Reminds me of my daughter's sweet sixteen last year. Her birthday is Dec. 26th and we had a Paris~Marie Antoinette themed dance party. Everything was decorated in french style and all the teenagers dressed up. It was so much fun! Looks like your party was too! Aren't teenager's fun?! I have two more teens to go, and I'm already feeling sad that it will all be over soon. Enjoy every moment, I am.
Posted by: fairmaiden | February 01, 2009 at 10:03 PM