Throwing my First High School Party at my House

A back yard full of city kids hanging out in the suburbs.

     I can't even tell you how nervous I was thinking about all my closest school friends and their expectations of where I live. 99% of the kids I invited hadn't ever been to Staten Island, but made the hike anyway. Staten Island is definitely not my favorite place in the world and I hate it sometimes, but it is nice to come home to quiet after being in the city all day. Anyway, my friends got there and immediately got in the pool. My sister said she could hear everyone on the trampoline laughing from upstairs. Everyone took advantage of the beautiful sunny day and just loved the pool and trampoline. I always forget that my normal isn't what everyone else's is. For example, in the beginning of the year I was obsessed with my friends apartments and how cool it was that they had the city waiting outside their door, but they didn't understand my infatuation because they had been used to that life for so long. I go to a very diverse school with kids who come from all boroughs and all different walks of life and I always found it fascinating learning about everyones different lifestyles. Even though I'm only about 17 miles from Manhattan, S.I. is still an hour and a half away, so I was so grateful when so many of my friends showed up. When they came to my neighborhood, I think it was some what of a bonding experience, because it was the first time my friends had actually gotten to see the area I come home to everyday. They also got to see the cats I come home to everyday! Key to fun party: have small cats. There were literally crowds of 14 year olds in my little den playing with my cats. It was so cute. At one point in the party, people were picnicking on my lawn which was a great idea that never even occurred to me! (Why hadn't I ever did that?). It was pretty fun (and the sunniest part of the yard). By the time 6 o'clock came, people had to start going home because they didn't want to travel in the dark. (The commute back to the city is an hour and a half and for some people even longer). In the end, I feel like the party was a success. I was so glad that this party was just focused on having fun and that there was no average high-schooler drama. This was kind of a practice run for my birthday party in August, so I planning on stepping up my game and buying extra seven-layer dip😉.

Walking with everyone from the train.

Some girls slept over, which means s'mores time!

...and then the $60 swan popped.

I'm telling you...my cats made the party!

Thank you to everyone who came! Hope you all had a great time!