We've done themes for both kids DS: basketball theme. Served Italian beef sandwiches made in crock pot and veggies and fruit.
DD: winter onederland. Did a winter themed cake with light blue, purple and silver balloons. Made chili and pulled pork sandwiches. Fruit, chips and veggies
DD2: still planning.
Never did structured games. Just family and a few friends talking and watching child open gifts.
Post by SallySparrow on Feb 14, 2016 12:48:04 GMT -5
We did a cookout for A's first, not really a theme. We used blue and yellow for colors. She had a cake/cupcakes with candy butterflies on them. Grilled burgers/brats/hot dogs. No games or anything like that.
Post by christy082 on Feb 14, 2016 12:49:40 GMT -5
My daughter's is Saturday. We're just going to do pink and yellow as a theme.
Because we are having 50 people coming, we are having it at a local nature center, which has fish and a few reptiles and an area with books and toys for the handful of kids that will be there.
We're having it catered -lemon chicken, pasta, meatballs, salad and rolls. I'm getting cookies and cupcakes from Sam's Club.
DDs theme was under the sea and we held it at the local nature center. We did lunch (jimmy johns, chips, fruit, veggies, and cake) and the kids decorated cookies. All the activities at the nature center were open to the guests including the kids discovery area, which was right outside the room we rented.
For decor I just did colorful sands buckets with sticks that had card stock sea creatures on them. We had a sand castle birthday banner and hung poms that looked like turtles and fish. We hung up photos of her first year on the bulletin board in the room.
DS: theme was "party" LOL. Family only, we served brunch at my parents house. We had a plain cake, balloons, and streamers.
DD: will be almost the same setup. I did buy owl-themed "who's a hoot!" decorations, mostly b/c I was buying DS's 4th bday decorations from the same place.
Post by countthestars on Feb 14, 2016 15:06:46 GMT -5
Theme was flamingos. Served a hot dog bar with lots of toppings, salad, Mac and cheese, baked beans, cake, plus chips and dips, veggies, etc. held in our back yard.
We did a party hosted at a local indoor water park, with an "under the sea" theme. We brought salads and the location provided soda, water, pizza, plates and silverware, etc, and they decorated (I added my own stuff) and did the favors. The kids swam for 2 hours, then we served salad and pizza, opened gifts and had cupcakes. It was really fun, and so nice to have it hosted elsewhere.
We played Pass the Parcel, but used a stuffed Penguin, which doubled as the prize. It was perfect for the handful of 4 & 5 year olds at the party. Santa popped in for an hour. He was a great addition, but I don't think we needed entertainment, per se.
DS: in July, monkey theme, 2-4 pm at our house, served pulled pork, several apps & sides. Beer, wine, soda. All desserts were monkey themed (monkey bread, banana triffle, cake and cupcakes had monkeys on them.) 40ish people. No scheduled games or anything.
DD: in Oct, owl theme, 4pm at my ILs, immediate family and a couple friends. A few apps, grilled pork loin, asparagus, smashed potatoes. Beer, wine, soda, and cupcakes.
We had a crayon themed party for them. It was at home and relatively small, but we had fun with the theme. We served fruit and vegetables, rice krispie bars with sprinkles, prezels dipped in chocolate and wrapped as crayons, cheese and crackers, and a warm mushroom appetizer. Plus cake. And alcohol.
No activities other than smash cake eating and we did open presents at the end when it was pretty much only family left. (And the family was going to be there all night.)
Post by estrellita on Feb 14, 2016 22:11:55 GMT -5
We haven't had E's party yet but it's on Sat! The loose theme is Mickey. We're not going overboard on decorations but my mom and sister are making a couple banners and we'll get some balloons and stuff. For food it's mostly apps but I think it should be plenty to fill up on! We are doing meatballs, buffalo chicken pinwheels, tomato basil pinwheels, meat and cheese, salads, flavored pretzels, veggies, fruit, and whatever else my mom brings. We aren't doing any activities really because there won't be a lot of kids. Maybe a few but not enough to really need to do something for them. We will probably just eat, do presents, then cake or something like that. Haven't really decided, lol. Pretty low key.
Tell me about your party. Was there a theme? What did you serve? Did you do any activities or games?
DD1 -- The theme was Bollywood. We served plantain chips, Indian hot mix, naan, samosa, tandoori chicken, saag paneer, grilled lamb skewers, and aloo gobi. Favors were elephant shaped cookies, decorated with a festive Indian motif. Decor was red and gold (flowers, tableware, balloons, bunting, etc).
DD2 -- The theme was First Fiesta. We served chips, guac, margaritas, Jarritos sodas, fruit, veggies, and hired a taco guy. The taco guy served rice, beans, and 3 types of tacos with accompaniments. Favors were Mexican wedding cookies. Decor was very brightly colored papel picado (that I actually made - I'm usually not crafty!) and paper flowers.
We didn't do organized games or activities at either. We just made sure the kids had an open space to play, and put out age-friendly toys.
DH and I had a fancy date night to celebrate we survived his first year and did the same for his second birthday. We will start birthday parties at 3.
I like this idea!
DS birthday party is this weekend but it's just grandparents and SIL at our house. We're grilling out and getting a cake and smash cake and I got a banner on etsy. I just wanted to take a few cute pictures.
Post by humpforfree on Feb 15, 2016 7:15:26 GMT -5
We just did a color theme (colors that had been his "branding" (lol)- birth announcements, photos, etc). Party was at 11 & we had a waffle bar, bagels, croissant ham sandwiches, donuts & cake. No games. Favors were little boxes of cereal and breakfast themed books.
We had a party at our house with a loose shark/ocean theme. I used shades of blue/Aqua for declarations but kept it pretty simple. I had a huge veggies platter and goldfish for appetizers, sandwiches, pasta, and chicken from a local Italian deli, and sharkfin cupcakes that I made. Favors were sugar cookies that I made (shaped as 1's and sharks). No games - we mostly invited family and a few close friends.
DH and I had a fancy date night to celebrate we survived his first year and did the same for his second birthday. We will start birthday parties at 3.
I like this idea!
DS birthday party is this weekend but it's just grandparents and SIL at our house. We're grilling out and getting a cake and smash cake and I got a banner on etsy. I just wanted to take a few cute pictures.
I think I'm leaning toward a combo of these. None of our friends have kids yet, but I know my parents will fly in. I'm envisioning it being mostly family (my parents and sister, MIL, and BIL) this year. I think I still want to do invitations and a theme though.
We will absolutely be going out to dinner to celebrate. Bonus, there will be plenty of sitters around that weekend.
We did foods from the book, so; -cheese and crackers with salami and pepperoni and pickles -fruit salad -spinach dip -pigs in a blanket -dessert table with mini cherry pies, mini ice cream cones, lollipops and cupcakes (arranged in the shape of a caterpillar)
Post by sunshine608 on Feb 15, 2016 15:37:17 GMT -5
Very Hungry Caterpillar Theme here too. We did foods from the book as apps, plus we had a full BBQ so chicken,ribs and sausage and traditional BBQ sides ( salads, baked beans, corn on the cob ect).
It started at 1pm and was for close family and friends ( about 25 people). No end time, but I kept to a schedule until the cake was cut.
I had activities/toys/games for the older kids ( 2+) but no games or anything. It was May so they could run outside.
I had so much fun and even though I said I wasn't going to do one for age 2, my Etsy History is telling a different story.
DD's birthday party will be in 3 weeks, but I'm traveling the week before so in full on planning mode now. No themes, but the colors are pink and gold. I've bought a good amount of easy decorations, because I'm not crafty, lol. I bought "one" blocks in gold glitter, a pink and gold "one" banner for her high chair, a pink and gold cake topper. Oh and a birthday outfit - onesie with "one" in gold glitter and a pink tutu. I placed my cake and catering order Saturday, balloon order yesterday, and ordered the photos for her "birth month" photos today.
Food is almond chicken breasts, chicken broccoli ziti, rice pilaf and salad. Cake is pink ombre - the version that is all over pinterest now. #UnoriginalButIdontCare
Post by spankswife on Feb 15, 2016 16:02:26 GMT -5
For DD we did hungry caterpillar too.
The food was all themed from the book. Sausages, cheese and crackers, left salad, fruit salad of the fruits mentioned, cherry pie, chocolate cake, a caterpillar cupcake cake.
We had a parachute with balls and a little bowling game. It was at a park with about 25 close friends and family.
DS is turning one in April. We've been thinking of doing a football theme - "1st down" We are a football family but I'm a little thrown off bc it's spring. So idk. Also this one will probably just be family.
WOW ! Some great themes!! We are going with confetti/sprinkles (borrowed from Pinterest) We're having it at noon and I'm debating what to order for food, it will be mainly adults. Potentially ordering from Wegmans.
Anyone know where I can search for past tea collection dresses? Threadup? I found this pretty "confetti"/ polka dot dress on pinterest that would look great.