Am I just getting old or are birthday parties just exhausting?

My beautiful daughter in Italy this summer.

Thank the lord!
It's nearly over.
My head is pounding.
My house looks like the changing rooms in New Look.
My boys have hibernated in their room for hours.
My husband has gone to bed.
Why?
Eleven , 14 year old girls are in our house!
Namely, Martha's Party!
It's a hard call as to what is harder, Toddlers running around screaming for two hours or a teenage meal and sleepover. I think the teenagers are winning hands down.
Mair is in her element. Girl heaven! or rather 10 older girls all oohing and aahing over how super cute she is, and she is playing to the crowd. Martha is less impressed at her take over of attention, but then she cannot complain as she was the drama queen who hijacked so many parties by dancing and showing off.
What goes around, comes around as my 18 year old loves to say,this phrase of course only applies to the rest of the family!
They arrived in some heap looking a cross between a Jack Wills catalogue/ converse/ Primark mix.
Dumping bags, sleeping bags, and presents everywhere as they surveyed their territory for the next few hours. Will they spot the endless parts of the house I have failed to reach with the duster today? The heat is on.
I am summoned to take photos. They wince. I am regarded as rather scary. Mainly because if the noise level rises above an acceptable level my 'teachers' voice appears and unlike the other cuddly yummy mums, I take on the resemblance of one of their least favourite teachers.
Wii is out, as are the dance mats, and games. Everyone is suitably occupied for a while. Phew.
Husband cooks them a beautiful meal (Chicken in Mascapone and tomato sauce and pasta) whilst I round up the little ones to be fed and changed.
Tea is gobbled by all! I am shocked, usually we get the kid who has every meal tailor made to them. Needless to say they have come to the wrong house!
My street cred goes up slightly as they all enjoy my homemade Baileys and lemon ice cream (not together I hasten to add)
Then the non sleep over leave.
Yahoo!
Five left.
They go outside, in the dark, in their party clothes, with their mobiles.
My 15 year old son looks perplexed. His sister never plays in the garden. She doesn't 'do' nature, she 'does' shopping! He then comments on how can 10 girls possibly make sooo much noise. I am with you their son. Taking a large chunk of chocolate cake, his head phones go back on as he heads back to the relative safety of his room.
Next load of washing up done, meal laid away and party food out for the sleepover.
Babies fed, younger ones tucked up, washing in the machine.
Attempt to rest with a cup of tea, but we have to keep turning up the TV to combat 5 over excited girls (I found the 20, yes 20 cans of energy drinks one had tried to unsuccessfully smuggle in! 10 were confiscated, 10 I have allowed. I am not having 5 hyper girls up all night!)
Now off to bed. Sleep? Unlikely. I have been known to actually phone parents up in the middle of the night before. I give three warnings then I get mean and start moving them. Sleepovers are the most ill named of all party events. Sleep is the absolute last thing on their minds. Movie feast more like! I don't need to worry. They have 'Rapunzel" and another Disney movie ready! so it's harmless at least.
Doubtless there will be banging of doors and giggles, and then the inevitable bad moods all tomorrow as they struggle on 3 -4 hours sleep.
I am signing out now. Every part of me aches and I need some rest, somehow. Tomorrow we have to erect the bunk cots! yes you heard me!
Watch out for my DIY post!