How to Host An Inexpensive Birthday Party!

It has been busy at our house with dedicating a whole day to my little girl yesterday, and then having her party this morning.  Yesterday was her birthday and she wanted to have it just be a family day. Then this morning we had 10 girls and 3 boys over for a barnyard style birthday party!  I stayed up way late making her cake.  I always ask myself why I like to make homemade cakes about half way though making it and realizing how much time I am spending, but I am always happy about the end result and the smile on my kids faces after making it.  I love planning parties, but birthday parties can be SO expensive, and me being miss frugal I tried really hard to not go over board.  Here’s how I did it. Here is my “How to Host An Inexpensive Birthday Party” but still make it fun and cute!

I made this cake…

We played
Animal Bowling-I had rolls of cardboard and then taped animal pictures on them and the kids bowled with a soft ball,

Barnyard Scramble- where one person is in the middle and all the kids have to make animals sounds and try to run past the person in the middle.  If they get tagged then they have to go to the middle and help tag.

Duck Duck Goose -You know how to play that!

The Animal Guessing Game- everyone has an animal taped to their back and they had to guess it by walking around and asking the other people yes and no questions and then when you know what it is you have to act it out!

And we ended the party with a Pig Pinata (about $17), which was a huge hit!

I spent a total of about $40 dollars on the party.  That includes cake, pinata, candy, favors, and plates and cups.  Not to bad eh?  I always debate every year if I should have a party or just buy a big gift, but I have come to the conclusion that there is a certain age range that kids have parties from about 4-10 and that’s not very many years of having a party for yourself.  So I have decided I will do parties every year until ten and then after that they can do something special with a couple of friends.  and then maybe when they turn 16 they can have one last big party!

Now that the festivities are over it’s time to give my house some attention.  I am doing a 30 day freezer meals project starting Friday, and also coming up on Saturday there will be another great giveaway!  Off to do the laundry…..Oh how I wish it could just fold its self!!