We started years ago at our Baja home having a "High Seas Poker Party". First year there were 25 people and 7 boats and by the 3rd year there were 25 boats, 100 people. It started at sun rise with a big breakfast, I cooked. My husband was the Pirate(we had the fastest boat in the bay which helped) and would select 2 or 3 lady assistant pirates for his boat. Everyone would pay to play and recieve a colored string braclet with a sample of the color his/her card would be. When the cards were found - he/she could only take the card that matched the one on his braclet. They also paid for cannon balls (tennis balls) in case found by the Pirate. The money paid the winner and runner up a percentage of the pot and the rest went to charity - school supplies for children, etc. The object of the game was to find where the Pirate hid the cards and collect enough cards for a poker hand. In the meantime, the pirate would try to capture your boat by throwing a tennis ball inside. IF he succeeded - he took a card but if the boat being attacked was able to get a tennis ball into the pirates boat first then they got a bottle of Cold Duck and did not loose a card. The game would end around noon and we would have a huge pot of beans, corn bread, French bread and assortment of desserts. My husband spent HOURS making up maps, puzzels, cartoons, riddles, etc. to give the people "hints" as to where to find the hidden treasure "poker cards". We lived on Conception Bay with 7 little islands to use for hidding clues and cards. It was great fun. Our home burnt to the ground with 8 others from a propane leak at a neighbors house so we have re built a home on a remote bay and can no longer play the same game. Instead, we have moved the game to our U.S. home and just call it "Poker Scavenger Hunt" Same idea, but on land and now there is a sheriff that tries to catch you and take a card from you. It is hillarious what people will do to prevent a card from being taken. We use the whole property to hide the cards and each year Ken thinks up wild ways to get clues to the cards placement. We start around 3pm with a sit down dinner on the patio around 6pm (when the game has ended) and one year the electrical transformer went out - ending the game early but was the NEATEST party ever. Most everyone stayed till the wee hours and chit-chatted by candle light and had a great time. They came back to the buffet tables for left overs/seconds around 11 or midnight. This party has grown each year also but we have been traveling this last couple summers so have not given it for two years.

Hi baseballmom, Sounds like a fun time! Here's a bit of my experience following your numbered questions... 1.) I find people eat between 2-4 bite-size appetizers per hour of the party. About a quarter will have more than one dessert serving. Keep your trays full because if the appetizers begin to look like they are running low...people stop eating. 2.) This time of year is easy for a centerpiece...either gather or order simple evergreen boughs appropriately sized to your table & nestled a few candles (shield the flame from the evergreens by putting the candles in a hurricane, or similar, glass), & maybe use a few sugared cranberries. 3.) Yes, move your chairs away from the serving table. Also, people will want to sit down once in awhile so place the chairs in a useable location. 4.) We don't have a full bar at our parties. For beer, wine, & soft drink we fill a copper washtub with crushed ice & put it on the island along with glasses, openers, etc. To keep people moving around the house...don't put all of the food on your dining room table. Create smaller food centers in the living room & other areas where people may mingle. 5.) MUSIC...you need music. The type of music will in large part determine the tone of your party. For instance, if you play low-key classical you'll have a low-key dignified party (for the most part depending on how much alcohol is consumed!). If you have 'Jingle Bell Rock' & 'Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer' playing it will create an entirely different mood for the party as will classic rock and/or country. I have burned dozens of CDs with a mixture of music leaning heavily towards upbeat familar songs with a clearly defined beat that I use for parties when I want people to dance & sing along. For more subdued parties, I really enjoy playing Esteban's music. If you're not familar with him, he's a classical guitarist who plays contemporary compositions of modern classics and Flamingo. 6.) Guest towels...place a small side-table next to the pedestal sink & put the towels there with a waste basket on the floor nearby. Remember to have extra TP visibly available too. Mostly, have fun! /tricia

It's standard in my husband's family. We had practically the same guest list for my first 2 daughters, but their birthdays are in Nov and Dec, so we used our Community center and limited the party to 3 hours. My son's birthday is in June and we held the party in our yard. And that was where we went wrong. Yeah- some guests lingered till the wee hours of the morning. Really, I can't believe DH survived, b/c I almost lynched him when the baby woke at 2am, and my 4 year old woke up crying at the same time and he was still partying it up in the yard with some friends. I sent my 4 year old to the window to call him crying-lol. It has been settled it will be our immediate family and local aunts and uncles and close friends (which is 2 families). DH finally listened to my voice of reason. Thanks for all your input. I will update and let you all know how it went Mid-May.

The part about having people write notes about your mom and making her guess who they were by? GENIUS! BIG FUN! (Maybe some people planning baby showers will take that as an alternative to the measuring-the-baby-bump game!)