Three? How did that happen? He was just turning two yesterday...
We have planned a family party (Sunday) and a friend party (Friday). The friend party will be at a local playground with his cousin, three kids from his preschool class, and one other little boy we know. Very low-key. He has asked for red balloons, so those will be the decorations. I am going to pick up a sheet pizza before the party, make a homemade cake, and walk to the ice cream store across from the park to get baby-size dishes of ice cream for the kids to eat with their cake. So far I have spent $.68 for candles (we will use these for multiple parties over the next year), $1.47 for balloons, and $1.50 for favors per child ($1 coloring book, $.10 crayons, and $.40 Play-Doh). I will make the cake from scratch, so that will cost next to nothing. I figure $1 per child for ice cream and maybe $25 for the pizza. I guess that's a pretty cheap party, seeing as how we would probably have pizza at home anyway to celebrate.
The family party will be a cook-out at home - no special decorations, games, favors, etc. Just a day to surround my little boy with the people who care about him
We spent $109 total at Wal-Mart tonight This included the favors, supplies, and his gifts (a bike, art supplies), along with about $30 in school supplies for DH, $10 in diapers, and $5 for dinner. I'm pleased that we were able to get him some nice gifts for less than $60. His bike was on clearance, marked $30 down from $60. We spent another $8 to get the training wheels. We bought some cheap art supplies (markers and paints), and I got a set of construction truck puzzles a month ago from Books Are Fun for $12. I think that's pretty reasonable. He will be getting a ton of stuff from relatives, but I have been asked a few times what he needs, so he might get some clothes too (yeah!). My parents already bought him a life jacket, which I am really happy about because we like to do a lot of water activities.
I'm looking forward to this weekend - it's going to be fun!