Quote:
Originally posted by viet_mom
Okay, so here I am for my now thrice yearly plea for help. Vietbabe, in a stupor caused by sugar and lack of nap, drunkenly tore into her birthday presents in a flash while I went to grab the remains of the Dora cake outside. Now....I have no idea who gave what (for about 1/2 the people and there were a lot). I could guess for some; others I have no idea (though I'd like to kill the person who gave a 3 year old a "princess castle makeup kit" complete with purple eyeshadow and red lipstick).
Should the "Thank You" notes say "thanks for the swell items" or should they fess up and say "I have no idea what you gave us but we really like you and are so glad you came to the party. Hope you enjoyed the takeaway goodybags which as you know by now contained candy recycled from the pinata".
Solutions anyone?
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Although it's best to cite the gift in the note, I'd just say something like "Vietbabe loved her gifts, and can't wait for you to come back over and play with them with her." (You will notice the implicit threat for whomever got her the princess makeup kit.
) For close friends, if you think they will find it amusing/familiar, you can confess the true circumstances, but do it afterwards, not in the thank-you note.
Of course, if someone showed up giftless and gets such a note, they will think you are being cleverly catty. O well, tough shit.
This actually illustrates one key reason one usually opens children's birthday presents during the party - as a technical matter, you aren't required to write a thank you note for a gift opened in front of the giver (because, of course, you thank them profusely on the spot). Of course, it's still nice, and really sumptuous gifts should probably inspire a rash of written appreciation anyway, but you get a technical pass, which is apparently very useful later for alleviating guilt about lazy or forgetful children (who should be left to find out about this thank-you letter loophole for themselves through independent etiquette study).
eta: oh, and nononono, try adding some mustard. French's flaming yellow stuff keeps the color nice and bright, and it gives them some zip.
etaa: shit, I just swapped recipes for "zippy" deviled eggs. I have not become my mother, I have become a pathetic joke of a 1950s housefrau.
