Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

Allrighty ladies, I need some serious help - Alex's 2nd birthday party is in 3 weeks and I have NOTHING planned, and have NO time considering my father's move takes place a few days before, and then my MIL is flying in immediately thereafter.

It's a Sunday afternoon party, at our house. So, my questions are:

-What kind of food to serve? We're having about 20 adults, and 15 kids (from 1 years old to 8 years old)

-Any ideas for fun activities for the kids? I want to keep this low-key without going too crazy, but at the same time, have something to engage the little kiddies

-Party favors?

-Anything else?

PLEASE help! I'm running out of time, and I'm juggling about sixty other priorities at the same time. AHHHHHHH stress, gotta love it.

Hey, at least MIL promised to bake a cake so I don't have to worry about that!

Message edited 9/13/2007 9:10:57 AM.

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

You can't go wrong with BBQ. You could do burgers, veggie burgers and grilled chicken. Maybe some veggie kabobs. Then just easy side salads and you can eat at room temp. or cold that way you aren't slaving over a stove.
You could also find a deli that will cater but maybe instead of a hero maybe do gourmet wraps. Their is a place on LI that did that. Our payroll company would cater us lunch when we worked and their would be all sorts of different types of wraps including grilled veggies ones which were so good.

As far as favors what about doing sand art. You get those pastic bottles at a craft store and the colored sand and let the kids fill it and then they have their favor also.

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

If you want to cook, make a few trays of food. Baked ziti, a fresh ham sliced up, salad or turkey. All these things are great and can go a long way.
The BBQ is also easy and less prep time for you. Even easier...order a hero or wraps.

As for favors or things to do:
You could rent one of those bouncy things for the kids.
You could buy pumpkins for the kids and have them decorate them or even create jack o lanterns. That would keep them occupied for a while.

When I was little my mom did this for me:
My birthday is in October and one year my mom bought these unpainted halloween cats. All my friends painted them and got to take them home as well.

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

Do you have a theme in mind?

We did a Higglytown hero party and since Pizza Guy is in every episode we did pizza, and then a hero, a few salads and chips before that. I didn't want to go crazy with the hot food and the cold food like I did for their 1st birthday.

We had a bouncehouse, a swingset and toys in the back yard.

I made a pinata and the kids did that and colored thier own cups.

For giftbags, I gave them Crayons, made coloring books, crazy straws, glasses, and a Higglttown Hero Stuffed Animal.

Once you decide on if you are doing a theme or not it is much easier to figure the rest out.

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

Also - if you look on www.orientaltrading.com they have a bunch of craft ideas for the kids, that you can either find in the store locally, or get inspiration from.

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

You could also do a gourd hunt. I'm sure you could get a bunch of little gourds, hide them all over the yard and have the kiddies find them.

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

One year for my niece, my dad made a "pumpkin patch" in the backyard and all the kids when pumpkin picking. After they picked their pumpkins, there was an area set up where they could decorate them. The kids all seemed to enjoy it.

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

Your post reminded me that I have to get started on my DD's party which is also coming up! The ladies have given some awesome ideas so far (I am saving this thread to my notebook!)

As far as things to do, if you have a Halloween theme, they're too young to really scare them, but you can have a lot of fun with the theme- you can have pumpkin decorating or maybe collect autumn leaves and have them make some kind of collage with them (not sure if it's too early but by a few weeks from now there should be plenty).

If most of the kids are her age, they're probably too young to have too much structured play time, but maybe have a few "stations" like bubbles, sidewalk chalk, a craft, some sort of physical activity like a race or Simon Says, oh and what about the birthday girl teaching them some yoga!

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

I totally love Stefanie's idea. Halloween theme is awesome. If you want oriental trading has halloween crafts. But if going to Michaels is easier then do that...

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

For food we are doing heros and salads. Vegie platter and some snacks and for dessert cake and fruit and cookies.

For favors, for the little kids, I am printing out some coloring pages with Hayley's favorite characters on them...Curious George (this is our theme of the party), Backyardigins, Mickey Mouse. I am going to also put in some crayons, some Curious George fruit snacks, probably a lttle baggie cookies or pretzels. For the older kids I haven't really decided. I am also going to pick up a few bunches of banana's and put 1 in each bag too, since it is a Curious George theme.

I got a bouncy for the kids to play in and I haven't thought of any other games...

oh yeah, her party is in 1 week

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

After they find the gourds then you can get them to paint them or put stickers on them too.

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

Love the Halloween theme. When I get back to my own computer, I'll post the websites with Halloween appetizers & desserts.

I think it would be great if the kids could dress up too - let them get some use out of their costumes.

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

Ooh check out the new Martha Stewart Holidays magazine that is out now it has really cute Halloween ideas!!

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

last year for my son's bday party we did a costume party.
the invite had a poem I wrote, saying something like
"get your favorite costume gear, and march in the costume parade of the year"
and something with "blah blah Costume bash.. who is that under that mask" sorry cant remember exact.
andthe invite was a photo of him in a costume. his name and age were in the poem too.

he wants to do the same thing this year.
it was awesome having all these little cuties in costumes. we got awesome pics. and the kids get to each enjoy their own costume. since its sad whenthey only wear it that one day.
last year my boys got to wear them a good 5-6 different times.

another thing, try to keep it structured.

Ive always been on the fence between
structured coming across as rushing people out, which is NOT my intent.
and then when it's less structured the kids get ancy and of course the parents do to so when it's predictable and organized "craft, eat, costume parade, cake" its easy for the parents to plan what they have to plan (diaper changes, naps, whentheyre leaving)
because my house parties linger forever, and Ive been trying to find that fine line between rushing and being organized.



sorry to ramble, hope that helped.

Message edited 9/13/2007 11:04:55 PM.

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

What great ideas people are coming up with!!

I was so boring. I just thought of pizza for food. I definitely love the Halloween theme. I think painting pumpkins would be a great idea. It would occupy the kids, and give them an unique (inexpensive) favor.

You can also decorate cupcakes with Halloween themed ideas.

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

a friend of mine also did the magnet/frames halloween theme, so everyone got to take that home.
she also did wood letters of the first initial of each kids name, and they painted their own.

im not sure what activities we're doing yet.

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

Here you go:
http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/special/specialfeature/halloween_ms_food/

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

You guys ROCK - thank you!!

P.S. Can I take the credit when our guests comment on these fabulous ideas, or do I have to say, " these women I know on this website...."

Re: Help with 2nd bday party ideas...

Posted by Bxgell2

You guys ROCK - thank you!!

P.S. Can I take the credit when our guests comment on these fabulous ideas, or do I have to say, " these women I know on this website...."