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Birthday parties...number 527 on my list of parenting-things no one ever told me about.

Believe me; I know when my kids were born, May 16 and December 1 for the record. But yet, every year their birthdays sneak up on me and a panic bubble rises in my throat. 

Oh Gawd! What are we doing to celebrate?! Of course, I'm reminded constantly during the weeks prior but somehow it all gets lost in between the mountains of laundry, softball games, and my "other job."

So here we are, May 4, 12 days from THE DAY, and I have no idea what we are going to do.

I'm a fan of the home birthday party; cake, a few friends and a few games because it's cheap or cheaper at least than going to Chuck E. Cheese. The problem is that I STILL wind up with a headache AND my house is a wreck.

I've come to appreciate the Chuck E. Cheese's of the world because the mess stays there and I could theoretically return to my immaculate home and take a nap stress-free when it's all over. Yea, right...immaculate.

On Sunday, we seemed to be on the road to a Luau party in our backyard, after much coercing. But then a sign at Del Taco caught my eye: $48 for a party for 10 kids. That's 10 kids meals, 10 bowls of ice cream and a playland that's decorated. Seriously, I doubt I can throw a party at my house for $48.

So now I'm on the fence and the panic bubble continues to grow.