I've never been to a wedding where gifts were opened during the reception. I think that would be odd. But opening presents at birthday parties and showers is the way to be! I'd be sad if presents weren't opened at one of those events. I've yet to go to one where they aren't.

Agreed, especially a kid's birthday.

It depends on the age, but one line of reasoning is that opening presents publically is potentially humiliating for the kids who can't afford to bring presents.

Here it's pretty typical to not open birthday presents at a kid's birthday party. Maybe because that way lies jealousy and tears, when the kids are 3-4-5, which is the age range I know? Baby showers, otoh, do open presents.

ETA: There have been a decent number of "no presents please" kid birthdays, too, which IMO is practically necessary if you are inviting the class of 20. No kid needs 20 birthday presents at age 4.

My stimulus check is going towards VEGAS, BABY! (less than two weeks!).

Or, if it gets here late, paying everything we put off till after VEGAS, BABY!

Annabel's birthday party is tomorrow. It's going to be very small, just five of her daycare classmates, so if it's clear that everyone brought a present, we'll open them there.

I commented that at her friend Eli's party he hadn't opened the presents, so maybe it was Not Done anymore, and we shouldn't. DH said that no, they did open presents--we just left early.

THAT amazed me. That party had to have run over three hours with rampaging 3- to 5-year-olds. We got there late because it was the same day as our caucus, we were there at least two hours, and we weren't the first ones who left. I was completely drained by the experience, though to be fair the zoo of a caucus beforehand made me tired going in. But still, WAY too long for that age group, IMHO. Annabel's will be an hour and a half, because that's how long we have the room at the Children's Museum.

I am taking two weeks off between classes. Woohoo! During that time, I think I am going to make Em a dress for a wedding we're going to this summer. I was thinking of using this fabric: [link] and the same pattern I used for her flower girl dress.

Oooh - I like this, too! [link]

I wish you lived closer Aimee. I need a sewing buddy.

I *KNOW*!!!

Might make a dress for myself for the F2F and wedding.

None of my friends sew or knit, and they all seem decidedly uninterested in it.

I want to make a ton of summer/house dresses so I can throw them on and lounge around or go out without much fuss or thought.