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WWYD - birthday party

litzo27litzo27 member
in Pre-School and Daycare

DS is turning 4 at the end of August. We're going to give him a party (first non-family party ever). I wanted to have it at home - we have tons of space both indoor and out and I was thinking of doing a fun "race car" theme with some simple decorations and some games.

DH is suggesting we hold it at DS's Karate gym - they do games with them and have different climbing and bouncing apparatuses. In both cases we would provide pizza, snacks-drinks and an ice-cream cake. DS likes his Karate gym and teachers (been going for a year) but of course he LOVES race cars. Gym is not that expensive.

What would you do (all comments welcome!)

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Re: WWYD - birthday party

  • akayfakayf member
    I love home parties.   I did a race car theme for my son's 3rd bday and it was so much fun.   I ordered a printable party package on etsy and made most of the decorations using stuff from that.   The cake was the best part!   I made a round cake and 9x13 cake.   Cut the round cake in half and slapped a piece on either side of the rectangle to make a large oval.   Iced it too look like a track and put a couple brand new hot wheels cars on the track.   Over a year later, he still talks about his race car cake.
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  • AgrippaRidesAgainAgrippaRidesAgain member
    I would price out how much the home party will actually cost.  After decorations, invitations, thank you cards, favors, and food (which, admittedly, I always overbuy) I always surprise myself with how much a home party costs.  I don't plan fancy parties by any means, am fairly frugal with the decorations, and we invite less than 10 kids to the party and it still ends up being $200-250 total.  Local party places charge essentially the same amount.  I think DS is having his party somewhere else next year.
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  • litzo27litzo27 member

    Thanks for your opinions!

    akayf - the cake sounds awesome but having never baked anything in my life I'll definitely go with purchased :) But thanks for the Etsy idea!

    Agrippa - totally fair point. Although in this case the invites, food, favors (I'm actually doing little paper back books and coloring books in liew of the usual "random stuff") are the same in both cases.

    I think I'm just afraid that in a couple of years he won't want a "theme party" at home and I just want to have some fun with it while I can... Although I can see possibly regretting this decision the night before.

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  • jlw2505jlw2505 member
    I am all for no fuss parties on my part - DH and I both work part time so its hard to get the house clean and decorated plus keep up with everything else in our lives and then have to clean after and find time to get everything together for the party.  The parties where I can just show up with a cake and goody bags are great and my kids love them.  We tend to things that we don't do everyday for the parties so they are special.  As the kids get older, we will move to the 2-3 close friends and do sleep overs and other smaller things that are better for small groups and then I will be find with the whole at home thing.  I did older DD's first 2 friend parties at home (Summer birthday, both were outside) and honestly, I didn't feel like I got to enjoy the party at all, I was so busy running around getting everything set up and making sure all the kids were where they should be, doing potty trips, etc that I felt like I missed the party and missed seeing my DD enjoy the day.
    Jenni Mom to DD#1 - 6-16-06 DD#2 - 3-13-08 
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  • neverblushedneverblushed member

    If the guest list is fewer than 10 kids, I would do the party at home.  If you are inviting the whole class, or expect more than 10 kids, I'd go with the karate party.

    I have been to many preschool parties over the years, and I really love and appreciate it when parents do a nice party in their home, although I understand why parents do parties at another location.  I've also hosted both types of parties for my own kids and like them both for different reasons.

    My DS has been to two different karate parties and has really enjoyed both of them. 

    High School English teacher and mom of 2 kids:

    DD, born 9/06/00 -- 12th grade
    DS, born 8/25/04 -- 7th grade
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  • PeskyPesky member
    I think it depends on you.  Having a home party is a lot of work -- organizing what is going to happen when, cleaning the house for the party, readying the food and decorations, etc.  While working FT with this gig now, there is no way I have time to add party prep on.  The only time I have done home parties (2 years of them) was when my MIL was in town and she did the cleaning, prep and so on.  This year she wasn't here for the bdays and I had it at a bounce place in town.  Totally depends on your mindset as honestly, the home parties are more work.


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    DD -- 5YO
    DS -- 3YO

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