Twins Birthday Party help

plglaserna04

Katgoddess wrote: »

My little boy turned 3 last month, and we hired out a bounce and slide. That, plus the toddler slide we already had in the garden, plus the paddling pool filled up with balls was more than enough to entertain the kiddies.

For food, I had french stick, sliced bread, ham, cheese on plates for parents to make their own sandwiches for their kids. Carrot and cucumber sticks, cherry tomatoes, lettuce. Grandma made sausage rolls, cheese straws, and rice crispie cakes. I made 2x Mary Berry Can't Go Wrong chocolate birthday cakes, as well as mini fairy cakes from cake mix. We also had the usual mini sausages, crisps, party rings, chocolate fingers etc.. Big bowl of tuna pasta. Plus drinks. Lots of different flavoured squash for the kiddies. Pizza in the freezer, just in case we ran out of food. Also had lots of ice lollies in the freezer, but didn't use them in the end. Coke/Lemonade/Orange juice/tea/coffee for adults.

Party bags, I got lazy and ordered bits from ebay. I went for quality rather than quantity, so didn't put much in. You could always order a bulk lot of books from The Book People which will work out at about £1 each.

Good luck. It was fun but exhausting. My plan B for rain, was buy more wine. :rotfl:

Wow! All that talk of food is making me hungry and wish that I attended the party. As for the gift bags, children are easy to please (the kids that I know, anyway!). As long as there are loot bags, they can make the contents look as if they're expensive toys with the way they're playing with them.

Loulou2010

my ds was invited to a similar party. they had a bouncy castle and had things like sand and water, garden toys, pushchairs, cars etc out. instead of party bags, all the children got a plastic football that were only a pound each, plus a helium balloon (you can buy the kits in asda to do them yourself). each child had a piece of birthday cake and one of the 10p bags of haribo. i dont think they need much more at the age!

Katgoddess

plglaserna04 wrote:

Wow! All that talk of food is making me hungry and wish that I attended the party. As for the gift bags, children are easy to please (the kids that I know, anyway!). As long as there are loot bags, they can make the contents look as if they're expensive toys with the way they're playing with them.

I purposely picked food that we could eat the leftovers for meals. The sandwich stuff did us for lunches - because I didn't make the sandwiches up it was still fresh, and the pasta/pizza did us for a couple of evening meals. We did well for 30+ guests.

plglaserna04

Katgoddess wrote: »

I purposely picked food that we could eat the leftovers for meals. The sandwich stuff did us for lunches - because I didn't make the sandwiches up it was still fresh, and the pasta/pizza did us for a couple of evening meals. We did well for 30+ guests.

:TThat's a very smart move! I remember watching a show in Food network called Quick Fix Meals by Robin Miller wherein she uses the leftovers to create a new meal.

proudmumof4

esmf73 wrote: »

Proud Mum - I've done loads of parties like this for my boys (now 5 and 7). Firstly, the children will not eat as much as you think they will - they will eat all the crisps though!! Don't bother with the games - the children aren't old enough to remember the rules. Don't worry about any activities unless you want to spend the whole night cleaning up after them!

What I did was this - bouncy castle, cleared the decks in the house (all precious things away and all furniture to side of room), got out all the childrens toys so they could all be played with by whoever wanted to. Party bags are expensive, but people seem to feel the need - embarrassing if you don't sometimes! I made pirate hats for the boys - just waited until they came to staple the elastic on depending on head measurement; princess crowns for the girls - pre decorated by me. Then party bags included a balloon, cake, bubbles and some crayons or something. VERY difficult I found to get something suitable for under 3s.

Food was finger food - with adults (who were encouraged to stay!!! Crowd control!) being given soft drinks, and the same crisps as the kids - but with dips as well. Party lasted for 3 hrs, clean up was very quick as everything was either in plastic bowls (easily washed) or paper plates. Plus most adults feel they should help - specially if you start clearing up in the final 20 mins or so before the "official" end.

Would advise that you get a takeaway or something similar in for yourselves for the evening as you'll be shattered. Great party though. You'll enjoy it.

Gosh, lots of supermums out there!!!!

Thanks for all the great ideas, doesn't seem as daunting now. The party is only for 2 hours and is on the green on our street so I'm hoping the weather stays nice. Just in case though will give the house a good clear up for plan B, dvd in front room and craft activities in the dining room?????

I'm hoping not to spend more than about £40 on food if I can. The ideas on here are great so feels workable now. :j

kr15snw

Instead of party bags you could do custom chocolate bars! I did these for my neice last week:

It was her 3rd birthday and thats a kit kat underneath

I did the design (Im an illustrator) but you could use photo's and print it out?

XxXfashionqueenXxX

Ok. Maybe look at www.partypieces.co.uk or www.yellowmoon.co.uk Yellowmoon is known for its craft bits and I don't know if they still do it but if you request a catlogue they used to send a voucher aswell( If you order from yellowmoon use this source code WSH07752). Definitely raid poundshops and supermarkets generally do good party fillers. Also use own brands for foods to keep the costs down, kids dont tell the difference

financially_gaga

How's the planning going? In my local 'works' they had chunky jigsaws for £1 each perfect wrapped up with a chocolate bar or something?