Help Me Do Something I Hate!
As some of you may know, Ben’s 2nd birthday is coming up. Another thing you might know - I hate planning things. I’m horrible at it. I love having people over to hang out at the house, but I am awful when it comes to actually planning get togethers. However, with Ben’s impending birthday looming over the horizon, and the fact that pretty much every relative I run into is aware of it and has asked me what we’ve got going on with the party, I have to plan something.
So, after weeks of searching the internet, making phone calls, doing on-site visits and reading contracts, we’ve finally found a place to hold his birthday party. We’re not having it at the house this year because a) too many people for one little house and b) we’re putting our house up for sale within the next month (which I’ll discuss in another post). Now comes the little details that I hate trying to think of and figure out, so this is where you, my wonderful, intelligent, good looking, kind hearted readers can help out. So, here are some of the aspects of his party that I’m debating over, I’d be happy to hear any comments, criticisms or advice that you might have…
- Invitations: Haven’t started them yet. I have a ton to send out. If I had time, I would have done something remotely creative but these things were supposed to be sent out weeks ago. Might just cut up some old printer paper and scrawl the date and location on it, shove it in an envelope, throw a stamp on it and send it out. If I feel a little creative I just might put “Ben’s Birthday Party” at the top so people will know what they’re going to.
- Entertainment: Not sure what to provide as entertainment for his birthday. I want to have something at the party so it’s not just people in a room eating, cutting cake and going home. Most of the kids that will be at the party are under the age of four. I don’t want to get a clown because it’s a proven fact that they scare kids. I don’t have the room for a bouncy thing for kids to play on. Most of the kids are too young to understand the concept of magic (because really, isn’t everything magical to a 2 year old?). I’m thinking of a balloon animal artist…but they’ve got to be REALLY good. Like making bicycles good.
- Party Favors: Most party favors out there aren’t for kids under 3. Sure, I can through candy in their goody bags, but I’d also like the kids to have a cool little favor from his birthday. Last year I bought some cheap sand buckets and put some candy, clappers and Sesame Street tattoos in there (which I tried on Ben a couple months ago and the tattoo lasted for 2 weeks on the kid!). I’ll stop by the party store later this week to see if there’s anything I can find.
- Food: This is something that’s going to affect everyone, and it’s gotta be good! Not sure if I should go with a catering company, or order trays of food from Portillo’s, or get some orange chicken from Panda Express, or get a bunch of pizzas from Little Caesar’s, or get some Filipino food or get a combination of all of the above. We’re expecting about 80 people (yeah, I know, having a huge family is cool most of the time, until you’re trying to feed them all!) which doesn’t count the mini-people under the age of 3. They don’t get to eat, they can just grab scraps off their parents plates or eat what falls on the floor.
- Cake: This is the item I will do a lot of research on, because the cake is everything to me! I love cake! Ben had an awesome birthday cake last year that was delicious, but it was just too far away to order again. I’m going to check out the local places to see what they’ve got.
Hmm…I think that’s where I’m at right now. Whaddya think?
Invitations: Evites
Entertainment: Face painting? Hide & go seek? Talent show? The 2yr olds on my plane tear magazines into confetti. Confetti-making party for the next celebration at someone else’s house.
Food: Filipino potluck!
Cake: Mmm… cake.
I was thinking about Filipino potluck, but I always hate asking. So if they bring food, awesome, but I’d like to make sure we have food, just in case.
i ordered a ton of party favors from oriental trading’s website, and i also found a site that did 50 personalized fortune cookies that said “happy birthday ayden” etc. et. (i think you can have it say up to five different things). i think $50 fortune cookies cost around $25, including shipping. =) hope that helps
and the cake we had for ayden’s 1st birthday was from gladstone..you could have fata or your dad pick it up hee hee
Ahh..the Oriental Trading company! I forgot about that place! Thanks for the tip…
Good luck hun. 80 people plus kidlets is quite a crew!!! Whatever you choose will be great with everyone I am sure.
I am with you on the cake though - it’s pivotal.
For entertainment - a duck pond! The kids could pick a duck and win a cookie or a small toy or something - nothing too expensive.
hey, thanks for asking for our help.
everyone above has great ideas.
iniviations are good but aren’t always necessary…depending on those you invite. i make invitations and announcement cards (with photos of the subject) if your interested. it’s relatively inexpensive too.
anyways, i really agree with the Filipino potluck. i too have tons of family (and most of them are from my husbands side…Filipino!) and like you, i hate having to ask people to bring food. but suprisingly when we do have a party/get together and i’m in charge, family and friends usually offer “what shall i bring?” and with this statement, it just makes it easier for me to tell them what i’d like to have (of course, with in limits of their capabilities) and with that, you can still order stuff to have.
now for the cake…you’re always baking stuff! i’ve seen your cute cupcakes and other things you post, so why not try making your own? this is a tradition that i do with my own family and trust me, my kids (including my father in law) rather have my homemade cake than one bought from a store or bakery. it just adds a loving touch to the party.
bag of goodies…i always try to give practical and yet fun stuff such as crayons, play doh (homemade is the best, plus edible!), small foldable chairs, juice box holders for the smaller kids, kites, bubbles, gift certificates, etc. the kids won’t care what they get as they are just happy to get something!
activities…simple stuff as bean bag toss, fishing pond (with or without water), small climbing items such as a slide, i’ve also filled an inflatable pool with those colorful plastic balls that you find in ball pits, coloring/arts and craft table. how about a bubble artist? do you have people in your area who work with bubbles and put on a show?
alrighty…i’ve put more than my 2 cents in. hope it helps.
good luck and let me know if i can help.
First decide on your theme: This should help make other decisions go smoother.
For example: baseball (a specific team or general sport), likewise with basketball or football. a beach party or luau.
Invitations: If you don’t want to go the paper route, you can design an e-vite and e-mail out your invitations.
You said that your venue has space limitations, so think of activities that support your theme — rather than having the big jumper house. You said that you’ll have a bunch of 3 year olds, so how about some inflatable bats or balls and they can hit balls (or each other) around the room. For a beach theme, inflatable beach balls. Still gentle enough so that no one gets hurt. Face painting usually seems to be popular at kids parties.
You can still carry out your theme with the food. For sports, I know Filipinos aren’t too keen on just hot dogs, but the kids will love it. You can supplement your menu with more mature food (such as a “make your own ____ bar”) for the adults still in keeping with with your sports theme. Fill in the blank: Cool and different toppings for say: nachos or salad or sundaes, etc. For a luau, Filipino/Asian food always works well. Just serve some fruity drink.
Favors: Sports - thunder sticks or miniature balls. Luau: beach bag or sand toys.
Cake: You seem to have a handle on this. But it has been my experience that if there are any other desserts available, then Filipinos won’t eat cake. So, you may need to adjust the size of the cake you order accordingly.
Hope this helps.
Rocena
Thanks for all the wonderful advice, everyone!!!
So, long time no see… or talk… or anything… but we were at a birthday party for one of Sarah’s, mom’s coworkers…. and she’s Filipino, so it was a crazy fun time!!!
They hired these balloon animal people… and you may say… balloon animals, LAME!, but seriously these people were amazing. They did Elmo, Grover, Ariel, as well as Happy Feet! Seriously, it was amazing! They even made balloon soccer balls! Not your ordinary Dog and Sword kind of people.
Here’s their info: It’s not a misspelling…
DGEIGN Balloon Twister
Jane Harris
630.980.6964
www.dgeign.com
dgeign@sbcglobal.net
Have a great time and I hopt to see you soon!!!
Tyson