Kid's birthday parties Grrrr related

[Angela&Kayla]

I love parties, and I am a fan of over-the-top parties for any occassion, including my daughter's birthday! This year will be the biggest party yet, but surprisingly, not the most expensive (YAY!).

Since her birthday is at the end of July, we have generally always had outdoor parties. Until this year, she has had seperate family and friends parties. This year, though, we will be having a giant party with everyone (about 40 kids total)!! Am I crazy? Well, maybe, but it sure will be fun...

The most expensive parts of my party will be things that could easily be cut out if on a budget (mainly the food). If not for serving lunch, the total for the party could easily be under $100.

Let me know if you have any questions about the carnival theme! I have a lot of ideas that I have gathered and come up with!!!

 

[lillygator]

I admit - I spend too much and go way overboard for parties!! I love to entertain and we don't do it that much....

DD #1 was born on Halloween....she thinks the whole month and anything related to Halloween is about her birthday...which of course, it is. So far (she'll be 4 this year) we've done a party and also go to Disney. The parties = so far - have been adults....all our friends and a few kids....haven't invited the class yet...but between catering, flowers, costumes etc I can tell you going to WDW is cheaper! This is the first year I am contemplating inviting her class to a princess and pirate party - at home - we are still going to WDW but we'll see about the party.

 

[abbyndrewmom]

This year for my daughters 9th birthday we went to build a bear, we shared the party with another one of her friends who's birthday is one week earlier then Abby's. They were both able to invite two friends, so there were 6 girls total. We paid $35.00 for each child at Build a Bear and then put on the invitation the girls could bring an additional $20.00 to spend on their own. They were all able to get the bear they wanted plus an outfit and accessories (Build a bear in Canada is much more expensive then in the US.) After the party we went to the food court ordered a Pizza, we brought drinks and cupcakes with us so the whole party cost just over $100.00 and the girls each got to bring home a build a bear. Plus it was super easy for us to organize!!! I thought it was well worth it and the girls all said it was the best party they had ever been to.

Allison

 

[mamalle]

I have done CEC before for ds and I thought for $9.99 a kid it was great. I collected coupons for pizza for the adults and the kids received more tokens. I did make my own power ranger gift bags and bring the power ranger cake. I received a credit for not using their cake. The CEC gift bags to buy were $1.99 for each so that wasnt too bad if you think about what it cost to make your own. Granted our rule in this family is- friend party every other year. so last year ds only had a small family party. His bday is right around thanksgiving so it hasnt been a issue. dd had her friend party in february and had a glamour party at snip its. It was a wonderful time and we capped the day off with lunch at the macaroni grill. granted it was around $400 but that is what she wanted and I worked my side job from home and saved the money. I bought crowns right after halloween along with the lizzie magurie feathered boas from disneyshopping.com for $1.99- the girls looked so cute! I think this year ds wants to do it at home and thats fine by me. we will rent a bounce house for around $100 and cookout. we have a swingset and will get a pinata and thats really about it. I may rent some small tables and kids chairs and set up some crayons with the writable paper on top ( macaroni grill will give it to you free if you ask) along with some small playdough from the dollar store. Its too cold to have swim parties or water slides at that time so I think the bounce house will do.. dd is asking for a sleepover for her next party and since she cant have a huge one- I may let her invite two of her friends over to spend the night. I'll let them make so fashion flipflops and hair accessories. have pizza but thats it. she knows she cant have another big party until she turns 8. that way Im not hit for a huge $$$ every year..

 

[snowbunny]

So I won't ever do a paid in advance party for the kids around us because the parents are inconsiderate and don't rsvp or if they do they don't show up.

Maybe you have a better response then we do.

No the parents are inconsiderate all over. We had four kids out of 16 show up at a children's museum party for my DS a few years ago. Never again.

The year we had it in the yard, every one of them came. Go figure.

 

[lillygator]

No the parents are inconsiderate all over. We had four kids out of 16 show up at a children's museum party for my DS a few years ago. Never again.

The year we had it in the yard, every one of them came. Go figure.

yeah - I think that's all over as well....we always have people who RSVP and then never show, people who didn't RSVP who bring other guests, etc....

 

[fan_of_small_world]

I'm another one who has had to call and ask "are you coming?"

The worst was this past year for DS's 7th. We had it at a large "party place" where there were video games, a climbing thing (DH calls them habitrails, like for hamsters, LOL), and a roller skating rink. They have several parties going on at the same time (just like Chuckie Cheese). I had mentioned to each and every parent when they called to rsvp that the place was pretty crazy and BIG, so I was asking for each child to have someone "responsible" for them, either their own parent or they could team up with other parents whose kids were coming. One girl shows up with her grandmother and toddler-aged sister. The grandmom walked through all the absolute chaos and was about to leave the girl on her own! I had to explain that that I'd asked each parent to stay (or make other arrangements). Well, she ended up staying w/ the sis but I heard her compaining on the cell phone later to the mother (who was working). Ugh! I never would have left my kid there without me or DH, even if I hadn't been asked to stay. It was mayhem, and who knows what kind of wierdo could be in the restrooms?

ETA: We won't be going back there! Gosh I needed a ton of Advil after that one LOL!!

 

[KirstenB]

Totally OT, but Mamalle, your kids are adorable! I scrapbook, so I tend to look at photos, and that photo is awesome.

 

[mamalle]

thanks Kristen!

I hear you on leaving the kids.If for some reason I leave another friend of mine will be with the kids- vice versa. Mine are still too young to be left alone. my friend had a party at her house last year and invited the whole kindergarten class. okay so one of the mom's said could she leave her son there. My friend said fine and than the mom said- "oh by the way can I leave my 3 year old daughter too?" so my friend didnt know what to say and said "well okay but leave your cell phone number just in case." well of course the 3 year old cried most of the party. my friend and her husband kept trying to call the mom and only got her voice mail... so about 3 hours later the mom calls back and my friend tells her what is going on- the mom says "well do I have enough time to get my nails done??" can you believe it?? they said thats the last time they would have a party like that..

 

[sk!mom]

yeah - I think that's all over as well....we always have people who RSVP and then never show, people who didn't RSVP who bring other guests, etc....

This used to be a problem for me but thankfully I now have a very self-assured daughter and starting last year (her 9th birthday) she called everyone who hadn't responded.

For her 6th, 7th, and 8th birthdays we had a swim party and she passed out about 25 to 30 invitations. It was frustrating that people didn't respond but the only real waste was me having too much food. I found that usually about 50% responded and of the nonresponders about 50% came and 50% didn't. The pool parties were also really bad for people bringing extras. Of course they never bring an extra gift.

Last year and this year she had sleep-overs. I limited the guest list and needed to buy craft supplies. DD was irritated that some of her friends weren't responding so about three days before the party she called those that we had not heard from. She was very polite and simply asked if they would be able to make it.

With the smaller guest lists of sleepover parties, I had checked the date with the moms of her two best friends since we would have changed the date if they were unable to attend. These moms do the same with me when their DD's birthdays roll around.