Monday, December 3, 2007

The Party's Over

AND WE ALL HAD A BLAST!!!! :-)

Plus I'm still smiling and the house is in tact - so it's all good! LOL.

The cardboard box Lightning McQueen cars were a real hit. It's such a simple idea and yet so effective. It provided an activity (making the cars), a game (racing around the track) and a take home gift. I think our biggest cost for these were the paper plates! LOL.

Here is a photo TJ modelled for me yesterday. We made his car up as a "prototype".



Here is an action shot showing some of the "racetrack" we set up using a couple of pieces of white rope. I was thinking of buying some of that white spray on stuff but this worked just as well and we already had it on hand. It's amazing how something so simple can work so well. The kids loved it! :-)


And here is the cake! Can't get much easier than a nice square cake. LOL. It really only took a few minutes to ice, decorate and assemble. I did purchase a brand new Lightning McQueen car for the top of the cake but the rest were toys from the cupboard (carefully washed or wiped over) and ingredients from the cupboard.



I think somewhere along the way, my journey into simple living has simplified the way I do kids parties. I kept the food simple, the cake decorating simple, the activities simple. Yet the kids all seemed to have a lot of fun, were stoked with their stash of items to take home and a couple of the mums seemed to think I should go into the party throwing business. LOL. All the while I was able to relax and enjoy the day as well (this is a BIG thing for me - usually I'm stressed out the whole time wanting it all to be "perfect").

I did a quick calculation this afternoon and think I've spent around $60 on this party for 7 children and 8 adults. That was without actually "trying" to keep costs down. It was only supposed to be morning tea but I know none of our family have needed lunch and there are plenty of other leftovers as well.

All in all I'd have to say it was a succesful morning. :-)

Now I feel like I can focus on Christmas......

11 comments:

River said...

Simple is often the best way to go, especially for parties. So many people go overboard, trying to get everything "just so", working themselves into the ground and then unable to enjoy the results of their work because they're just too exhausted. The "one upmanship" and resulting cost is also just too much.Simple food, simple games, easy talk and lots of relaxation all round is much better.

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear it was a success. I'm taking notes for DD's party in January. I think the cake looked excellent :D

Mimi said...

what a clever idea for a little boy's birthday party... it looked like the kiddies were having a great time... and the little race cars you made for them to drive (wear) were great....
you are one clever lady...

Kez said...

Woohoo - glad it went well!

That's wonderful that you were able to enjoy the party yourself. I know what a big thing that is!!

libby said...

Sounds like everyone, including you, had a great time. It certainly looks like lots of fun - the kind of party kids will remember. At home parties seem to be out of favour in my neck of the woods but as you have shown they really don't need to be hard or difficult. Just a bit of thought and preparation and a party to remember.

Libby

Anonymous said...

the cake looks great and simple is the best way to go for kids parties I think!!! the car racing was a BRILLIANT idea :)

lightening said...

River - yep, I agree. I used to be one of those people!!!! :-) I am now a BIG fan of simple and the kids seem just as happy if not happier.

Meg - have you decided what you're going to do for your DD's party yet? I need to start working on my DD's once I get through Christmas. I have a list of websites I've bookmarked as we're doing a "making party" (think I already told you that). Going to be very exciting but a little bit more work/preparation.

Mimi - thank you. They say the best way to be creative is to "steal" and that's what I did. DS got a "Wiggles Box Car" in a Wiggles show bag a few years ago. They'd basically designed a cardboard box version of the big red car. So I pinched the idea and turned it into a "Lightning McQueen". :-) In turn, one of my friends is pinching the idea from me for her son's birthday next year (they come from a different areas so will be mostly different kids anyway). Hopefully a few people might pinch my idea from this blog too! :-) Perhaps we should call it "sharing" rather than "stealing" as it sounds much nicer.

Kez - I nearly succumbed to the temptation to invite a few more kids but knew more kids + more adults would have made it harder for me. Think I'm glad I stuck to my guns (albeit waveringly).

Libby - isn't it funny how at home parties have gone out of favour? It's different out here of course because we don't have McDonald's and fancy indoor playgrounds to host parties at. Mind you, there don't seem to be many parties being held at all around here. I wonder if the lack of parties and at home parties is because we're too busy? Or is it something to do with these magnificent homes and yards people build but then don't want to use because they might get messed up???? Haven't we become such a backwards, mixed up culture.

Ali - thank you. :-)

Katie said...

Great effort for the party! The racing game was awesome - I can just imagine those kids running around the track having a ball!

frog ponds rock... said...

hehehe this brings back memories. I am pleased it sounds like a great day..
cheers kim

lightening said...

Katie - DS fell asleep for about 2 hours in the afternoon. I think all the running tuckered him out. :-)

Kim - it's the kind of thing memories are made of isn't it? :-)

lightening said...

Katie - DS fell asleep for about 2 hours in the afternoon. I think all the running tuckered him out. :-)

Kim - it's the kind of thing memories are made of isn't it? :-)