My dd will be 16 *gasp* on March 6, and I'm trying to come up with some kind of special (but not over the top) way to celebrate. Her dad and his family are wanting her to come to Indiana (it's a three-day weekend for her), but I really, really want her home. I guess I could invite them to come too (if I were so inclined), but I really, really want this to be us and her close friends. Any ideas? She's not big into sleepovers any more and I don't want to rent the country club. I also don't want to blow this! TIA

By Babysitbarb on Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 01:52 pm:

We had a hard time deciding what to do for our dd's 16th. In my dh's family they have what is a coming of age party when the girl turns 15. He's spanish and Im not. We didn't want to have one because it's also a big church thing also and the girls and I aren't catholic. So we promised her a big sweet 16. We ended up having it at our house and we had a huge turnout and she loved it. Her birthday is on valentines so I combined birthday and valentine decor.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 02:44 pm:

My dd just turned 16, but didn't really do anything special, other than buying her presents and taking her out to eat.

By Kim on Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 03:20 pm:

That's a hard one and OMGosh Janet I cannot believe you DD is 16 already!!!!!

By Pamt on Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 10:22 pm:

My best friend planned a surprise party together with my parents for my 16th birthday. I literally had NO idea and it was an absolute blast! Could you pull off a surprise party? When I was 16, just having food, music, and friends around was plenty enough for "party." Another idea...my best friend in high school and I had birthdays 6 days apart. We had a huge hayride (tractor-trailer filled with hay, freezing cold, about 30-40 people) and after riding around we went back to a relative's farmhouse for chili and cake and just hung out and talked. That was a lot of fun too!

By Janet on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 09:06 pm:

DD told me yesterday she really wants to go to Chicago with some friends and shop. I talked it over with dh, and we're thinking of letting her invite a couple of friends and going up there for the day, maybe spend the night, it depends. The hayrack ride sounds fun, Pam! I didn't have a party myself...I can't even remember if we did anything special! She'll have to wait until the next day to get her driver's license, though, since our DMV offices are closed on Mondays!

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 10:30 pm:

My 16yo dd would love to go to Chicago to shop!

By Janet on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 04:47 pm:

Within reason, of course!

By Tayjar on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 08:26 am:

Hey, Janet. I don't know how close you live to Bloomington but how about taking the train up? It's super cheap. I think you can get tickets for about $25 a person round trip. That saves you the hassle and expense of parking in DTC. And, if you don't want to stay all night, they have a train that leaves DTC around 7:30 or so.

By Janet on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 09:51 am:

That's been something we've wanted to do for a long time...I may look into it again. Thanks for reminding me!

By Dawnk777 on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 03:09 pm:

Oh, to go on a train, would be even more fun! Can Sarah and I come? LOL!