Looking for ideas

Guess what. In just over 3 weeks, the bubster will be turning 4! How did that happen? I can no longer say that 3 year olds are funny. I will now be required to say that 4 year olds are funny! At least I hope they are........

I asked the bubster if he would like a party and his answer was yes. (Duh) Here is the dilemma. I am not great with hosting. I don't host. It's not my thing. I'm great when it is a shared responsibility but all alone.....not so appealing and more than a little bit daunting. I'd like to keep the guest list to a minimum, but it still comes out at 6 school friends (I had hoped for 4). Each friend, but one, has siblings.

We have a spacious enclosed back yard, but no play equipment. We hope to have the bubster's sandbox finished by then. We have a play tent with tunnel that we can put up. And I thought maybe they could bring their trikes to ride around on the driveway. Obstacle course perhaps. I don't have a theme in mind. But the bubster had said pirates (which one school friend did last month)

I had thought I'd turn two large drawing boards into blackboards to draw on. And I was thinking of doing some foot painting. I could do my fantastic bubbles from last years party - we do a party each year with his two Sydney birthday buddies. Each boy invites friends to the party.

While the bubbles had it's fun moments, I did feel a little like a trained monkey with few parents helping to supervise while I formed my giant bubbles. The kids would run up and pop them before they broke free from my rope wand......harrumph..... one kid I didn't know actually threw a stick at me to try to pop a bubble. Was I impressed? This same kid opened one of the bubsters presents and started playing with it. Huh?...... I mean, who is this kid anyway?? I was a bit sharp with him. But I digress.

And what about party bags. I dislike all the little plastic stuff that is the usual loot but what could one do instead that's cheap and doesn't take a year to make?

And then of course there is the food. Ai yi yi. And the cake. Ackk!!! I'm not a cake maker....... I do make incredibly delicious rice paper rolls but......oi.

We also don't have any outdoor furniture (we have tree stumps...), nor do we own a barbecue. Geez, are we lame or what....

Incidentally, the bubster can be a bit cranky. On the one hand, he is desperate to have friends over to play but on the other, he is not so sure once they get here. Last year at his birthday party, he hoarded the bubbles. Luckily for me, I forgot to give them away. Old-timers brain occasionally comes in handy. Note to self, make sure to dress bubster in pants without pockets.



I think it is good to work on these skills so I would like to have the party here but would like it to be not too stressful. Somehow......

Rambling here. Oh and to add, I had planned to be proficient enough on the banjo to play Happy Birthday. Better get practicing if that is going to happen...........

Would that end up being the straw that broke the camels back? You know. Picture this. "Haaappy Birthday.....no wait. Let's start again. A one a and a two a.....Haapppy Birthdaayyyy to..............you....Wait. Uh.." Ah bugger it. Next year for that one right? Won't take long to roll around again after all.

Care to share your childrens party successes? Or un successes??