On the neighborhood party note WWPD?

[k3am]

Go! You're part of the neighborhood and you're new! I'm sure you weren't purposely excluded! Bring wine. If it sucks, at least you have wine. (I didn't read the other thread)

[Deleted]

Why are you feeling awkward?

If you want to be friendly with your neighbors, go. If you want them to talk about you as the weird family who never participates in neighborhood events, stay home.

[abvintage]

Yeah, I'd go. Definitely. Good way to meet people. We just moved too and NO ONE has bothered to make an introduction. I may get domestic, bake some cookies, and go do my own introductions.

[reginaphalange]

I would go. You said everyone goes so I assume they were just speading the word. I would email back and ask what you can bring or just bring snacks stuff.

[Deleted]

Jul 14, 2016 16:31:30 GMT -5 theophania said:

Jul 14, 2016 16:28:36 GMT -5 @bruxannie said:

Why are you feeling awkward?

If you want to be friendly with your neighbors, go. If you want them to talk about you as the weird family who never participates in neighborhood events, stay home.

My H is rather introverted. I'm more extroverted, but I struggle in situations where I don't know anyone.

My H is super introverted and I'm the same as you.  We go to our neighborhood things because it's been nice getting to know the people on our block.  

Bring a snack that you'll eat and stand around smiling.  A more extroverted person will come up to you eventually. :-)

[reginaphalange]

Are your kids old enough to fake a stomach ache if it's truly terrible? lol That would be my escape plan.

[k3am]

Jul 14, 2016 16:28:25 GMT -5 theophania said:

Jul 14, 2016 16:25:55 GMT -5 k3am said:

Go! You're part of the neighborhood and you're new! I'm sure you weren't purposely excluded! Bring wine. If it sucks, at least you have wine. (I didn't read the other thread)

LOL I wouldn't be able to drink the wine myself, not for about 6 more weeks at least.

I obviously suck at keeping track of the pregnant ladies.. At least your husband can enjoy it.

I take marinated/grilled artichokes to every summer gathering we go to. I don't care so much if people enjoy them.. I enjoy them. (People enjoy them. When I let them have a couple anyways)

[shanadoo]

Jul 14, 2016 16:25:36 GMT -5 @tinyjoys said:

Could you make a plate of cookies & stop in for a few minutes, an hour tops, to mingle?

This. I would pop in for just a little if you guys feel weird and bring beer and wine.

[angelashly]

Jul 14, 2016 16:40:43 GMT -5 privacy said:

I'd go, and I'd bring a nice hostess gift (flowers, or a plant). I'd also ask either the one who forwarded the invite or the original sender what you can bring - just in case it's "known" that these are potluck style or everyone brings booze

I would do this

[Deleted]

I feel you, bc mh is an introverted homebody. Im super extroverted, but like you, i get a little funny when i dont know anyone. Booze helps with that, but obvs thats not an option for you right now.

My vote is still to go, definitely. It may be a little awkward at first, but this is a good ice breaker for future neighborhood shindigs! Go meet your neighbors!

[JoBub]

I didn't read the rest of the comments but I say go! We went to a neighborhood Christmas party about 3 months after we moved in and pretty much knew nobody but they were all so welcoming and happy we came and we love our neighbors now

[yogini kiki]

Go!!! Make friends!!!!

[callmeKD]

Definitely go!

[kellykapow]

Definitely go! You can just stay for a little while if you're super uncomfortable, but this sounds like a great way to meet your neighbors.

[wildflower810]

What everyone else said. We're newish to our neighborhood as well and I wish someone would host a party so we could go meet people. It'll be weirder if you don't go and a year from now still don't know the name of the lady who gets her mail in her bathrobe.

[Deleted]

Definitely go. It will be weirder the more months you skip to eventually show up. Plus you have a built in conversation piece in your uterus. This is as easy as it will get to break the ice.

[adm11]

Cut up some watermelon and go! I had to just jump in like this in mine neighborhood 2 years ago and I'm SO glad I did!

[Cherhorowitz]

Go. My neighborhood has a couple of these a year. We have only gone to the Halloween one. I brought a bottle of booze and a dessert from the local bakery. I agree with asking your neighbor about what everyone else brings, because at ours it's pretty standard that everyone brings booze and food.

[yogini kiki]

Jul 14, 2016 20:41:42 GMT -5 theophania said:

It just occurred to me that it might not be a kid friendly thing. Another e-mail sent, lol.

I feel like a neighborhood party that kids are not welcome at would just lead to a babysitter hunger games situation. Lol.

[JoBub]

Jul 14, 2016 22:40:23 GMT -5 theophania said:

It is kid friendly and it's a pool party. Looks like we're going.

I'm going to bake fresh parmesan bread and bring a few dips for it, yes?

Fresh parmesan bread = instant friend maker.

[allthedrinks]

I'm glad you're going! And one of the amazing things about being obviously pregnant at a party that may be awkward is that you have a built in excuse to leave without seeming rude.

[dc2london]

Jul 14, 2016 16:31:30 GMT -5 theophania said:

Jul 14, 2016 16:28:36 GMT -5 @bruxannie said:

Why are you feeling awkward?

If you want to be friendly with your neighbors, go. If you want them to talk about you as the weird family who never participates in neighborhood events, stay home.

My H is rather introverted. I'm more extroverted, but I struggle in situations where I don't know anyone.

Oh hi, me

[mustardseed2007]

My H is REALLY introverted and I'm also introverted. I drag my ass and his to every neighborhood shindig there is. People expect a level of awkwardness b/c we all know each other but not super well, so it's actually perfect for us. That's what I tell myself anyway.

[k3am]

I like my neighbors on a more intimate basis.. New neighbors move in, they get a gift and an invitation for dinner. DH considers us the welcome committee. We judge them based on that dinner and determine if they're neighbors we want to hang out with or neighbors we just wave at.

It's getting expensive.

[ghostmonkey]

Jul 15, 2016 11:48:32 GMT -5 k3am said:

I like my neighbors on a more intimate basis.. New neighbors move in, they get a gift and an invitation for dinner. DH considers us the welcome committee. We judge them based on that dinner and determine if they're neighbors we want to hang out with or neighbors we just wave at.

It's getting expensive.

You'd be broke as fuck in our neighborhood. We have a decent amount of rentals around us that don't tend to stay for more than a year.

[k3am]

Our neighborhood is mostly retired folks. As they move out, new folks move in. We also have a relatively short street, thank god!

The rentals on our street rarely turn over, and when they do, the owners tend to sell.

ETA: I left DH in charge of the last welcome gift.. And he gave them.. Corn. 6 ears for $2! In his defense, he thinks corn is the breathing ever.

[mustardseed2007]

Now I'm trying to imagine what my reaction would be if my neighbor gave me 6 ears of corn....

[k3am]

Jul 15, 2016 13:23:59 GMT -5 mustardseed2007 said:

Now I'm trying to imagine what my reaction would be if my neighbor gave me 6 ears of corn....

Those neighbors love us! They come over for dinner a few times a month, the husband comes to drink with DH on the regular, and their kids will randomly have DD come over so she can jump on the trampoline and we can do whatever we feel like. (Trampoline.. Controversial, I know! The kids are MUCH older (12, 14 for the ones she plays with) and DD is a wimp so they can be in with her, but she yells at them if they actually jump)

I don't think DH would be friends with someone who didn't appreciate corn from his hometown.