Help! I need some REASONABLE birthday party ideas - for both boys and girls. We usually have 3 or 4 friends over and I need IDEAS!

Thanks,
Christine

We've done several things for our girls' birthdays. I'm not really into "big parties" but these things have worked for us. A couple of years we did a craft party, where I provided the craft supplies and the kids made two or three simple crafts that they got to take home with them. Last year we bought canvas tote bags and fabric paints and the kids decorated their own bag. Another year they used fabric markers and decorated t-shirts (BIG t-shirts they could use as swim suit cover-ups). For a summer birthday we did a "splash party" one year. All the games (played outside) somehow involved them getting wet. They did water balloon toss, some relay games involving water (I forget exactly how that worked), etc. The games themselves were really simple, but the kids loved getting wet, and it was really easy to clean up afterwards.

For my teens we tend to let them do something with friends rather than having a party. Last year Aly invited 3 friends and they went to the mall, shopped for a while, then all got manicures. One year our son invited a friend and they went to a movie and then got something to eat. Other ideas would be to let them go bowling or skating or indoor rock climbing. We'd limit the number of friends they could invite based on how expensive the activity would be. We'd pay for the activity for everyone, provide transportation to/from. I think they like having the freedom of doing something with their friends without Mom or Dad tagging along, and I get the benefit of not having to plan/put on/clean up after a party at home.

Yesterday was Aly's birthday. This year we didn't do a party, but she told me last night that she'd had a very happy birthday, so I guess the day was a success. Since we're new to this area and she really doesn't have many friends yet, she was afraid she'd have a bad birthday. Also, my son moved back to Florida so this was her first birthday without her brother, so she was kind of bummed about that. She had to babysit yesterday morning so she had to get up at 5:30 in the morning (ugh!), but she was happy to be earning some money. Then we got fast food for lunch (her choice), and then I took all three girls to the mall. I dropped them off and let them have a shopping spree, while I went back home (I can't keep up with them in a mall). I picked them up just before dinner, and we went home to have Dad's homemade pizza. After dinner we went for a walk in our neighborhood, came home to let her open her gifts, then had cake (which she baked herself) and ice cream (her favorite kind). Then we went in the hot tub and just relaxed. So really it was a very simple day, but she loved it. Her brother called her in the afternoon so she got to talk to him, too. Last night she was very happy, and said it had been a good day. So, even without friends or a party, she still had a great birthday.