David’s high-flying SkyZone birthday party

When I was planning David’s birthday this year, I wasn’t really sure what to do. We had a family dinner for him, but we also wanted to have a party with his friends.

When we throw parties, we like to invite a lot of people, make a ton of food, and bake a giant homemade cake. I wanted to do all those things for David’s birthday, but I also have an infant, and every bit of hosting a party felt overwhelming. The invitations, the cleaning before the party, the cleaning after the party, the hours and hours and hours of crafting to create a Pinterest-worthy celebration my kid deserves. I don’t have it in me.

We considered skipping a party, but I knew David would be disappointed. He’s been looking forward to turning four since the day he turned three, and he wanted to celebrate with his friends.

Then I remembered the jumping place. “The jumping place” is what my kids call SkyZone, an indoor trampoline park that has stuff like open jumping, dodgeball, a giant foam pit, aerobics, and birthday parties.  

Perfect.

We could invite tons of friends, have a great celebration, and if, by party time, I still hadn’t cleaned up breakfast, no one would know.

(Psst, and if you’re in Richmond, this is the Week of Wow — every jump pass is discounted through August 30! Click here for more info.)

Skyzone 1

Skyzone 2

From the moment we arrived, the great people at SkyZone made David feel special. They gave him a red balloon and he got to be line leader. We probably could have just gone home at that point because LINE LEADER!!!! RED BALLOON!!!! IT CANNOT GET ANY BETTER THAN LEADING THE LINE WHILE ALSO HOLDING A RED BALLOON!

Oh, but it can get better, David.

TRAMPOLINES.

Skyzone 3

SkyZone takes care of every aspect of a great party.

They even provide invitations — you can choose electronic or paper. I thought about asking if they’d also address them with gold foil calligraphy, but I figured that’d be pushing it.

Skyzone 9

Skyzone 11

David’s guest list included lots of families with multiple children, which meant there was a huge age range in attendance. Like, really huge. From 12 years to 12 weeks.

SkyZone was the perfect venue because there was something for every single party-goer.

Flips for the big kids…

Skyzone 4

…bouncing for the little kids…

Skyzone 5

Skyzone 6

…and cuddles for the babies.

Skyzone 4

And then there was Mary Virginia, who sat on the trampoline and shouted over and over, “Mama! I want to sit in your lap! Mama!”

Skyzone 8

I have to tell you about our party hosts.

A SkyZone representative hung out with us the whole time to lend a hand if we needed it, and to make sure we were having as much fun as possible. It’s sort of like when you’re going out to your car and you have seven huge bags and you think, “Wow, it sure would be nice if there was someone here to help me with these bags.

While we were at SkyZone, our host was that person.

While we were jumping, the guy in the photo below kept an eye on our party to make sure everyone was happy and jumping safe. But he didn’t just stand back and watch, he played with the kids. He helped the littlest jumpers navigate the trampolines, and he was wild and crazy with the bigger kids.

Skyzone 7

The moms and dads especially appreciated the the help. Because while he was entertaining our kids, we could  jump in the foam pit.

Skyzone 10

After an hour of jumping, we all went to a party room for pizza and cupcakes.

When I was setting up the party with SkyZone, they asked me what David’s favorite colors were for the decorations. I answered, definitively, “Red.” They asked me if he liked any other colors and I said, no. Absolutely not.

SkyZone: So all red decorations?

Me: Yes.

SkyZone: Red on red?

Me: …On red on red on red on red.

Skyzone 12

Skyzone 13

SkyZone provided pizza, and I brought a bunch of cupcakes. I put them in our party room when we arrived, adn while we were jumping, the party hosts arranged them on a platter with candles for me.

And I hadn’t even asked them to.

Is it possible to emphasize how helpful that was? Now that I have three kids, I spend most of my day 1) picking up throw pillows from the living room floor 2) trying to figure out how I’m going to get things done.

My life is like a giant chess game where the pieces are moving and crying and unpacking that bag you packed and set by the door ahead of time so it would be ready. Everything requires a strategy. I have to have a tactical plan just to adjust my ponytail. I can’t just do anything.

So I’d been planning the moment I would excuse myself from the group and arrange the candles. I needed someone to hold Thomas, and someone else to distract Mary Virginia. I already knew Caleb would hold David, so he’d be fine.

Then I walked into the party room and it was all done for me.

Party hosts, you guys. Incredible.

Skyzone 14

Skyzone 15

When the lights dimmed and everyone sang happy birthday, our big party in this giant venue suddenly seemed personal, close.

Watching my four-year old, surrounded by so many of his favorite people, all I could think about was how happy he was, and how I’m so glad I didn’t skip a party just because I didn’t know if we’d be able to get the grass mowed and bathrooms in time.

Thanks to SkyZone, David and his friends had an amazing time. And thanks to SkyZone, we got to celebrate our incredible four-year old boy with a unique party that was full of energy, fun, and excitement — just like him.

Skyzone 16

Skyzone 17

(Also thanks to SkyZone, everyone slept great that night.)

Skyzone 18

Richmonders! If you’ve never been to SkyZone, NOW is a great time to try it out! During the Week of Wow every jump pass is discounted through August 30. (Visit SkyZone.com for more info.)

Disclaimer: this post is part of a collaboration with SkyZone

9 Comments

  1. Alicia August 26, 2015

    I was a party host at a children’s discovery museum when I was in high school. I never realized how much the things we did (our jobs!) made it easier on the parents (we also cut the cake, served it, packed up all the presents in bags, wrapped up leftover food, threw away all trash and wiped things down, etc.). Hope you have the host(s) a nice tip. That was always the best part after a crazy party.

    Reply
    • amandakrieger August 28, 2015

      they packed up our stuff and took it out to the car too!
      this is why it’s SO incredible — i’d been eyeing all the stuff thinking, “how am i going to get that out to my car?” and then they took care of it 🙂

      Reply
  2. Rachel August 26, 2015

    best. party. ever. My kids are already looking forward to when David turns 5 😉

    Reply
  3. Katherine A. August 27, 2015

    My sister in law who got married on the same day as you and had her first two babies on about the same days you had your first two babies, who is currently pregnant with her 3rd baby (your 3rd came first) had her son’s bday party at SkyZone in Charlotte too!!! We (she) had a great experience too! Except for John, he refused to put the orange socks on and didn’t want to jump. But other than him, everyone had a great time! I ate the pizza too, and I’m snobby about pizza!!!!

    Happy Birthday, David! Good job, mama!!! 🙂

    Reply
    • amandakrieger August 28, 2015

      he refused the socks!??! my kids refuse to take them off!! it really was so.much.fun.

      i remember that they got married on the same day — bc you couldn’t come to my wedding! :*(

      Reply
  4. Karren Haller August 27, 2015

    Wow Happy Birthday what a fun party!!!
    My kids are all grown so we dont get to do all these fun things.

    Thanks for sharing on the Oh My Heartsie Girls WW this week!
    Have a great weekend!
    Karren

    Reply
  5. Tianna August 27, 2015

    is 26 too old to visit a SkyZone? lol. I should mention I have no real excuse to go – no children. this birthday party looks like such a blast!

    stop by and chat ♥ http://storybookapothecary.com/

    Reply
    • amandakrieger August 28, 2015

      too old!? NO SUCH THING!!! skyzone isn’t just for birthday parties, and it has stuff for adults too (dodgeball, aerobics classes, etc.). i jumped and i had a GREAT TIME!

      Reply
  6. Lisa B. August 27, 2015

    This looked like a fun party! Kids & trampolines = lots of fun times! Looks like the little guy had the best day ever (to quote Phineas & Ferb) thank you for sharing & linking up with us over at Welcome Home Wednesdays Link Party!

    Reply

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