Birthday party (on a budget)

As most of you know, C's birthday was yesterday.

We normally don't do a big to-do for birthdays.

There are a few reasons for this:

1.  It's just unnecessary to do every year (in our humble opinions).

2.  They're kids:  tape a balloon to a wall, call it a party, and they're happy.

3.  It gets costly.

Emphasis on #3.


When A was just born, we decided to set a guideline for our kid's birthday parties.

1.  A family party at one.

2.  A friend party at the house at 5 (or kindergarten...).

3.  A destination party with friends at 10.  (We said 10 because we're HOPING that by 10, they will have outgrown Chuck E. Cheeses and Bounce Party- two of the most expensive birthday party places.  Think bowling alley, boys!)

Anyway....this was C's year for a friend party at home.

When A. was in kindergarten, we decided to use the weather to our advantage and have a sledding party.

This year was no different.  Since this summer was so hot, we decided to do a sprinkler party!

I received an email from vistaprint.com in June for a really good deal, and scored 20 invitations with envelopes and sticker seals for less than $12.00.  (Add in 8.36 for postage, and I don't think that's too shabby!).

Then, I scored a Lightening McQueen slip-and-slide on clearance at Burlington Coat Factory for $4.96.

This was in addition to the older slip-and-slide we had been given a while ago. 

I thought it would be fun for them to race.  :)

I filled up our tall/short pool during the day to let the sun heat the water...and wahlah....backyard fun.

For those that thought the water was a wee bit too cold, we had soccer nets up, basketball hoops, the jungle gym ready for action, a craft, and sidewalk chalk waiting.

I purchased a dozen balloons from Party City for $10, and affixed them to the lawn with golf tees.  (Thanks for the idea, Pintrest).  The effect was cool at first, but we lost 4 balloons before the party began.  No biggie.   Each year, I also let the boys pick out a large character Mylar balloon for their birthday.  They love that tradition.  C. picked Batman....for $8.99.  (sorry, no pic).

For a craft, and an addition to their goodie bags, we had DIY super hero masks.  (It just fit, since C. is a HUGE superhero fan).  My mom's school has a special machine to cut these masks.  So, aside from the 3.99 self-stick stars and .99 elastic (both on clearance), this craft was cost free and had a high rate of return.  See for yourself:

Oh wait...how'd that last one get in there?  (hehe!)

A. came up with the idea of "Balloon-ie Ball" which essentially means keeping a balloon in the air.  I added the "racquets" by taping free Home Depot stir sticks to some paper plates.  Wah-lah....free fun.

I decided that I didn't want to deal with scooping ice cream along with serving cake, so I decided that an ice cream cake was the way to go.  In accordance with my need to come in under budget, I decided to make it myself.

C. threw me a curve ball and decided to ask for a batman cake.  This is what I came up with:

The Funfetti cake mix was on sale for 1.09 a few weeks ago, and so was the Blue Moon ice cream I used to fill it (2 for $5).  I purchased the butter cream icing for a total of $4.13, and went to town.  A professional cake decorator, I am not.  But hey....homeboy was happy.

I purchased all tableware from The Dollar Tree (in plain red and blue- like spiderman colors), and spent a total of $6 on all of that.  No one noticed that they weren't official Spiderman plates....so I think that's a win.

The most expensive venture of the evening were the goodie bags.

We had the lunch sacks, so I decided to go with those.

The spring water was from Meijer, bubbles from The Dollar Tree, Spider Man pencil from The Dollar Tree, and Gummi fish swimming in blue M&M's from Meijer.  (Thanks Pintrest for another idea!)

Total cost for all these goodie bags ran up near $26.  But, I didn't purchase a whole bunch of cheap candy, and it fit in with our sprinkler theme, so I was happy with that decision.


So, total monetary outgo for a fantastically fun birthday party was:  $89.01.

My goal was under $100, so I'm VERY happy with that!

Here's a few picture highlights of the evening:

I LOVE Q's face as he hits the water.  :)

Home base for the grown-ups.  :) And craft zone, and gift zone, etc.

Thanks, Michelle, for all your help!

I know, I know...he's a bit blurry, but still so cute.

The "big boys" were trying to stay upright on the slippery slopes.  :)

One of his best buds, Evan.

Dear C, If you ever want to marry Molly someday, that would be a-ok with me.

She's one of my favorites.  :)

Look!  I got my whole family in one picture! 

How stealthfully awesome of me.  :)

This is all the kids- sitting QUIETLY - AFTER being sufficiently sugared up - watching C. open gifts.

I was amazed.  :)

By the end of the clean-up, the boys were wondering what to do with the balloons left over.

A. was itching to release one into the sky,

so Dave and I told them to release them all.

Adios, balloons!

What a fun night!

Thank you to everyone who came out and joined the fun!