2nd B-Day Party! What did you do or plan on doing?

We are trying to plan the twins 2nd B-day party but, DH and I disagree on what to do.
I don't want to do a big party like last year and he does. Party theme, lots of food,etc.
He was a large family 5 brothers and sisters and we have 14 nices and nephews so, really any way I look at it it'll be a large party with all the kids.
I want simple an afternoon with just cake & ice cream.

What did you do for the second b-day party or what do you plan on doing?
Did you do a character theme or just keep it simple. Food or just cake ice cream?


Thanks

 

We had a medium party ( 30 or so)---just family /neighbors. Cake/ice cream and pizza. It was a generic Princess theme and we were happy with it.

We are on a budget and serving pizza/cake was financially the bst option. Kids played in the backyard/adults chatted....nothing formal.

We did the same thing for 3 yr and will for 4. Starting at age 5- we will do 'friend' parties and less family, until then casual is easier!

 

We're not doing a party. Our families are out of town, and both just visited recently, so it's not going to happen again next week. And, K&K are not in a playgroup or anything, so they don't really have "friends" their age....and I didn't want to have a party with our friends...

Anyhow. Nadia will be in camp on their birthday, so DH and I are taking them to the children's museum, and then out to lunch. In the evening, we'll have cake or cupcakes, and a special dinner.

We also spoiled them with some big gifts -- a slide, a trampoline, and balance bikes -- we're going to assemble this stuff and set it up in the basement, and then surprise them with it. Maybe fill the basement with balloons, too.

Next year we'll do a party with their preschool friends!

 

we did a "curious george" theme but kept it simple. Just immedite family and close friends. Some good food, cake and ice cream!

 

I've somehow ended up with about 40 people (half adults, half kids). We are holding it in a park near our house and I didn't want neighbours to go by and see it if they weren't invited. We are having it after nap, before dinner, so cake, tarts, fruit, cheese and crackers. I'm getting a woman in who does a program called CircleSing who leads the kids in songs and movement and running around pretending they are airplanes sort of thing. Nobody in my neighbourhood does big parties - getting an entertainer is seen on the upper end of the scale. Party is this Saturday. Cross your fingers for good weather (right now its supposed to be partly cloudy and 15c)

 

We did a Monkey theme for the kids 2nd birthday. We had about 25 people at the part (immediate family and close friends). We made chili in the crockpot and had deli meat for sandwiches and a few other sides. We also had cake and ice cream after dinner.

 

We did not have a party! My daughter's birthday is a week before- so we were partied out! But for this year (their3rd) we had a bounce house in the backyard and bbq'd hot dogs and I made ice cream cone cupcakes. They were a hit- No extra dishes and forks- no cutting a cake-- perfect! Just had about 6 of their friends and some family as well- And the week before- lazer tag birthday party for 10 year old dd.
Lanie

 

QUOTE(Momto2es @ Jun 1 2009, 10:16 AM) [snapback]1336179[/snapback]
Party is this Saturday. Cross your fingers for good weather (right now its supposed to be partly cloudy and 15c)


I sure hope that it's pretty weather for the party & Hope that you all have fun

Thanks for the posts! It has given me some more ideas to share with DH.

 

We did smaller than the first year. We had immediate family and a couple of friends (which is 40 people right off the bat). We had some munchies then ordered pizza and then had cake and ice cream. It was pretty nice that way. Some simple Sesame Street/Elmo decorations and that's it.

 

We had a big cook-out party. I ended up being almost as big as their 1st birthday - just with more kids. I belong to a mother's of multiples club, so I invited several friends with two-year old twins. It was a bit crazy at times, but we just kept it simple. No "real theme" - we did a monkey cake, but just basic birthday stuff like balloons and generic goodie bags. We put all the play cars and toys in the driveway and the kids played and ran around. We had a bouncy house (borrowed from a friend) and all the kids were scared of it - I guess they were too young, even though it was a smaller toddler-sized bouncy house.

It was fun, it was crazy, but next year we may switch to a kid party and then family paryt/cook-out. Here are some photos:

Abby in her new car
Abby greeting some twin guests
Parker in his cool shades
Opening presents

Good luck and have fun!

Jess

 

QUOTE(SnowCraig @ Jun 2 2009, 11:11 AM) [snapback]1337858[/snapback]
It was fun, it was crazy, but next year we may switch to a kid party and then family paryt/cook-out. Here are some photos:

Abby in her new car
Abby greeting some twin guests
Parker in his cool shades
Opening presents

Good luck and have fun!

Jess



Great Photos and it looks like it was a blast!
Thanks for sharing

 

We went bigger than we planned. Originally I wanted to do immediate family only ... but my cousins all live close, and invite us to all their kids b-days, so I felt obligated to invite them! So becaue there are a lot of cousins ... we were suddenly at 30 adults and 12 kids. There is no way to fit all these people in my home, and in early April you can't count on the weather, so we ended up renting a hall (VFW) ... my parents paid for it. We did pizza, cake and ice cream ... and my sister got 2 performers to come ... one as Elmo, and they did balloon animals, face painting, music, etc.

It ended up being a blast ... but still, too big! haha ... somehow I'm going to have to curb it next year!

 

[SIZE=10pt]Our party is next weekend. We're having a "Beach Party". A&P aren't really into any characters this year. I figure this will probably be the last year that I get to decide

We're only doing family and close friends. There will be approx. 20-25 people here ~ not too bad. We're going to BBQ and then have cake & ice cream. Decorations are going to be things that they need for the summer anyway...beach towels, buckets with shovels, sand toys, beach balls, sunglasses, etc.

The backyard is all set up with outdoor toys. We'll fill the sand/water table up as well. DH put the pull up today, so depending on weather, that is an option for the older kids/adults as well.

Hoping the weather holds out for us. It's been really nice that last week..fingers crossed!!

April [/SIZE]

 

We did a Gymboree party with kids from the neighborhood. That kept it nice and small, and the expenses were minimal.

 

Last year theme for their 2nd birthday was "Raggedy Ann and Andy". We invited all of their close friends during the week day with Moms group. We have no family left on both side of the family. So, we had a very tiny BBQ party with their Godparents and some close friends of ours.

Our theme for this year will be "Monkey See, Monkey Do" because I have a boy/girl. This theme is fitting with their personality as they are growing independently and going wild at times. I am going to miss having their party during the week day with the Moms group. Because some of their friends are going to preschool this Fall either AM/PM. My twins missed the cut off by a month (born on Sept. 30th, where school cut off is Sept. 1st). We are going to have a small bounce this year. You should check out coupons that come to your house all the time advertised for bounce party.

I already have plans in mind for next year when they turn 4! We have a beautiful park that has a 'children's garden' which is going to be so cute. We will have some fabulous pictures of all of their friends.

On the note, please check with your families/friends who does photograph on the side or to be hired on the day of your twins' birthday. It make our life easier especially at this age, being a host, and attentive to all of the guests. I have gotten some great pictures from last year. I would do it again!

Have a great birthday party planning!
RJ

 

We did a small close family party and had a Dora cake with a couple Dora balloons. I wanted a small party unlike the 1st bday. It was nice and the girls had fun.

 

We're having close friends, the kids the boys have playdates with, & immediate family at our house in a few weeks (21 people---kids & adults---invited). We'll do some sort of sandwiches, pasta salad, fruit, baked beans, etc....BBQ type food. We decided to do cupcakes this year vs cakes, so we'll see how that goes!

Our theme is actually crazy. Aiden is OBSESSED with Blue's Clues & Conner is OBSESSED with Yo Gabba Gabba. DH felt they each deserved what they wanted (I was going to choose one), so we're having a Gabba/Blue's birthday. I ordered half & half of each theme (so, like 16 Gabba plates & 16 Blue's plates), right down the middle. I even have Gabba favors & Blue's favors. I made their invite & it encorporates both themes.

Since it will 'hopefully' be warm, we'll just have outside stuff to do....balls, chalk, slide, sand & water table, etc. Nothing fancy. I debated a bounce house, but I think they're too little (and their 'friends' are either 3 mos older or younger than them).

Good luck deciding on something with your DH! I can't believe I'm planning their 2nd birthday party already......

 

We had a big party for the boys' 1st b-day (more for DH and I getting through the first year and me only getting one chance to do a 1st b-day party . I decided to go with a small family party for their second b-day -- dinner and cake. I still did a theme (Sesame Street) and had balloons, plates, etc. For their 3rd b-day, I did another big party in my dad's backyard (Curious George theme). This month the boys turn 4 and we are doing another small family party with a Mario Kart theme (their current passion). I don't want the stress of a big party again this year. I will do another big party for their 5th b-day and have already decided on a Pirate theme with a treasure hunt. Hopefully they will go for that . I seem to be an every other year big party type of mom .

Whatever you do, have fun!

Mendy

 

Thanks everyone for sharing your ideas & letting me know what you all have done or are doing!
I can't believe it either that we are actually planning a second B-day party! Time flies by sooo fast!

 

We just had ours last weekend. We had three horses/ponies come for an hour. One pulled a carriage that families could in, one was a big horse for the kids to ride on, and one was a smaller pony for the littler kids to ride on. It was a blast and a wonderful way to entertain everyone. It actually was not very expensive either. I did the food myself as I love doing it and do it every year. We did not have as many people show up this year even though we invited pretty much the same amount.

 

We decided to rent a bounce house facility for their 2nd bday. It is about $250 for a 2-hour party plus the cost of food. It's worth it to me because our house is small-ish, it's HOT in AZ in June, we're trying to sell our house... and the boys love to bounce! We don't have a lot of friends with kids so there won't be too many kids bouncing around, and it should be a lot of fun. We also don't have to worry about cleaning up or picking up food, which is a huge plus for me!

 

Their first birthday was a good size party. Lot more adults than kids but it was Dalmation themed and I had outfits made and a cute cake and pizza and salad. We had it at our house because most babies we knew weren't walking or just walking and figured it would be easier for everyone.

This year we are having it a park. We are doing a theme ( I am leaning towards Mickey and Minnie but not 100% yet) and my mom and I will make the cakes and we will more than likely just have fruits and pastries since it will be early morning (10 am or so). This year will be a lot more kids as we have made friends with lots of moms and kids this year so it will be fun.

We don't buy them gifts as we decided to take them somewhere on their birthday instead. Last year was Sea World and this year we are doing Disney a couple of weeks before because of the some discounts we got. So that is their gift from us!

 

QUOTE(adia2007 @ Jun 5 2009, 07:41 PM) [snapback]1343108[/snapback]
We don't buy them gifts as we decided to take them somewhere on their birthday instead. Last year was Sea World and this year we are doing Disney a couple of weeks before because of the some discounts we got. So that is their gift from us!


Sounds like fun!
You'll have to let me know how your Disney trip goes.
Take Care

 

For the boys' second birthday, we didn't have a theme - we just figured we'd have an outdoor party like we did for their first. We BBQ'd and had cake ... but we didn't get a tent, like we did for their first birthday, and of course it RAINED. So we had 30ish people crammed inside my tiny townhouse! Ooops!

We're getting the tent again this year. AND a bounce house. Praying for good weather!

 

Our party is on Saturday as well! We're having it at a place in town called the Nature Discovery Center. It's a large piece of property with a house, covered (with fans) picnic area, pond, bird cage, sand pit, playground, and LOTS of greenery. Sounds like it makes no sense now that I type it but the boys love it. It's basically a nature trail and at the end of the trail is a park. We should have around 8 kids and then DH's and my immediate family. We're reslly trying to make this one about the boys, not anyone else. It starts at 4 and parents should feel free to just roam around with their kiddos for about 30 or 45 minutes, then meet back up for pizza and cupcakes. Hopefully it won't be over 2 hours. I HATE playing hostess so I figure it won't be too terribly stressful in such a spread out situation.