2Nd Birthday Ideas? - Happy Valley,OR

For my son's second birthday last year we went bowling. He loves going bowling so instead of a party focused on presents, pinatas, and themes we DID something. A trip to the zoo if you have an animal lover with a few close friends, or if you want to have it at home you could pick his favorite activity (like chalk drawing on the sidewalks, basketball, or bike races) and focus the party on that. My son loved that he got to participate in something (his bonus), we had cupcakes to keep the theme low key (my bonus), and the guest list small. Setting up tricycle races, or buying extra sidewalk chalk would be simple, easy, and fun.

I would only invite kids around his age range that he would possibly play with. You shouldn't have to invite a ten year old to a two year old's birthday party. How about a pizza party? There is hardly any kid I know that doesn't like pizza. My girls absolutely love it. Also we got our daugter an ice cream cake. It took care of the dessert in one swoop. Also I don't know if where you live does but Baskin Robbins did not do theme cakes here. So you could totally get a plain one there. The only down side is the cakes are small. Also you should sit it out a short time before you serve it because it needs to soften up some. Good luck and hope you have a good time whatever you do.

For my daughter's 2nd last summer, we did a potluck BBQ with some family and friends. We did birthday dinner with just her grands/aunts/uncles so there were about 10 of us for lasagna dinner. Easy.

To celebrate with her friends, I set up a park playdate and then brought a costco cake and banana bread muffins. Lots of people came, but I didn't have to decorate or plan anything so it was easy.

We celebrated 3 times but each celebration was very managable and all together, it wasn't much work. We did it on Saturday (BBQ), Sunday (family dinner) and Monday (park).

At my sons 2nd b day party, we went to the park. I got sandwiches and cake which was great!! No clean up at home was even better. My experience is that when people come to your house they tend to stay a little longer than the invitation had said. And it ends up being a party for the grown ups as well.
You can specify on the invitation "kids party". Also in my experience you spend money either way, whether its at home, a park, or Chuck E Cheese the only difference is the outside places have to clean up and provide and at home you have to clean up and provide. You can also rent a bounce house if you are stuck on doing it at home and put on the invite "Bounce House Party" and just list what you will be doing that day. I hope this hleps. Good LUck and Happy Birthday to your little one!!

I would just invite close family & close friends. There's no reason to invite all the extended family and all the friends for every birthday. We do bigger parties for the big milestone birthdays, ie 1, 5, etc If you want to keep food cost at a minimum either do the party at an off time (2 pm~ after lunch, before dinner) that way you basically only have to provide appetizer, snack type foods & the cake. I also completely understand the no character themed cakes or parties. My kids are now five & soon to be three and they still luckily don't ask for or really even know who all th characters are. We do not have cable & they do not watch a ton of tv or dvd's. What I have done is to pick a theme from something they have absolutely loved for the past several months or past year. My son's bday cakes have consisted of a football theme and a train theme. Football b/c well I made him a block "o" cake b/c I'm a huge OSU fan. Train b/c its something he absolutely loves. He loves all things trains. His bday is in May and when I asked him what he wants for this year he said a boy cake. I haven't figured out exactly what that means yet. Themes for cakes I have used for my daughter have been a monkey, a horse, tinkerbell, a doll and a bowling cake. Yes, since it was a milestone bday we let her pick what she wanted to do and she's a very girly girl but she picked a bowling party. Anyways, now that I've rambled on forever. I would definitely pick something he loves. The things I've done for my kids have all been things they love or have showed a big interest in. Hope that might help a little, have fun planning :)

What is the purpose for this party? At age 1 children are babies and could care less what you are doing or why. At 2 they are not grasping this much either. If you want to have a party, you can have as many as you would like and it is great socializing and great to be with family and friends. Most people must have a party for those reasons and not for the child since it is unlikely they will know why this party is happening. What children care about is that they are loved and the quality time that you spend with them. That is what is truly important. Wishing you a wonderful time.

The first birthday is mainly for the adults in a baby's life, as they get older, the focus changes from adult family and friends towards the friends of your child when it comes to parties. So this year, invite just the grandparents and godparents, close aunts and uncles who live close by. This isn't about all the gifts he can accumulate, it's the occasion. If he has a friend of 2, invite them. The number of guest should not exceed his age plus 1 more. So 3 friends is plenty at this age. Having some activity for them to do is great. Small sandwiches, like pulled pork barbecue with potato salad and a fruit salad, ice tea lemonade for a punch works well together. Cupcakes seem to be al the rage. That way you only have to make enough for the gurest invited. Using dixie cups for ice cream is a great way to keep things neat and everybody loves a dixie cup with orange sherbet and vanilla icecream. Lunch or a little later, nap time will be the signal for folks to go home. Enjoy!!!

I'm not too sure about the guest list. I don't think lots of friends or extended family would be thouroughly offended not to be invited, though. The first birthday is super special. I'm sure you will have other gatherings with them. Pick out the people that will truly treasure the birthday time with your son, you will probably know who is right.

What I did, when I was trying to cut back on food served, was have my party at 2 o'clock. That way, people would've had lunch already, and I could serve snacks and cake. I got some Food Should Taste Good multigrain chips and artichoke parmesan dip and a veggie tray at Costco, along with some juice and water bottles and stuff like that.

I didn't, and still don't get into themes yet!!! I'm with you there! My son is 4...he'll be 5 in July. He hasn't asked for a specific theme yet, so I'm just not gonna go there. At 2, I think I got a big truck on his cake. He loved it. Easy to get stuff decorated with trucks for boys. Or just some balloons and stuff. No big deal. The kids remember us spending time with them, playing, and having fun, SO much more than they will remember the STUFF. Don't overwhelm yourself with preparations....have FUN!!!!

I don't think 2 year olds like the spot light. It freaks them out. I've seen waaaay too many sad 2 year olds at their own parties. I have two boys and I did no party at 2 y.o. for both because of how I saw other friend's kids react. But if I had wanted the party, I'd have just kept it super low key and let him lead the party. If he wants to open presents, then "Gather 'round, everyone! It's present time!". Singing Happy Birthday has always been the breaking point in my experience. They get so embarrassed, they just fall apart. I think if you just let it be HIS day with what you know to be HIS favorite things and people around, then you'll all have a great time.
If you''re really having a problem paring down your guest list, maybe you could spread it out. More of an open house type of event where people come and go all day (with a break for nap time, of course). Your 2 year old might feel less pressure in that type of atmosphere, too.
Have fun!!!

ADDED: I LOVE Monica L.'s idea to break it up into 3 different events!

My daughter only invited my granddaughters friends, grandparents, her 2 uncles and their fiances. Not great aunts or great uncles. If you invite the extended family, then they want their children to come and their children etc.
One of the grandparents got a little offended because she couldn't have her sisters{great aunts} come, but I think it is the choice of the parents for whom they want to invite. I think finger foods like sandwiches, potato chips etc. are a good Idea.

I am copying and pasting my response from another post:

I LOVE THROWING PARTIES!!! I have learned many of valuable leasons over the last 5 years. People always rave about how fun our parties are, they would be shocked to see how little we spend. My husband and I keep our birthday spending to $150.00 per kid, including presents. The less I spend on decorations/party the more I have for presents. I love this challenge. No need to buy all those expensive decorations just to throw them away!
1) to really save on money plan the party away from mealtime. Either mid morning or later afternoon (plan the party around YOUR son's nap time, not everyone else's).
2) If you dont serve a meal, have snacks for the kids. I love doing party mix at Walmart: Huge bad of animal crackers, a tub of raisins, a bag of pretsal sticks, and a bag of animal cookies (the frosted kind). Put all of this together in a bowl and have little paper cups for them to get a snack in. Make enough for 20+ kids (we have a HUGE family) and it cost around $10.00!!!! You can have a veggie/meat/cheese tray for the adults, but remember its not about the adults...they can wait to eat. :)
3) If you want to do lunch, get pizzas from Costco or Safeway and cook them up then cut them in bitesize pieces. They go farther that way.
4) As for gift bags: Keep it to less than $1.00 per kid ($2.00 if there is just a couple) I really think that kids love taking something home, BUT I hate all those little toys! They just get thrown away! I had enough money one last year to get Thomas gift bags with treats for all the kids...my husband asked me after they all left, what those bags were in the kitchen! Dang it!!! more money down the tube!!! Buy bubbles or something from the dollar store that you can get in packs of three or so and a couple sheets of stickers (cut them in half to go farther). Put some of the left over snack mix in a ziplock bag for them to take with them. OR get some brown lunch bags and let them docorate their own treat bag! We have done this before!
5) Pinatas are a waste of money! Each kid gets about 30 seconds with it and thats about it. Plus by the time you fill the thing its about $20.00 of your budget. Find crafty things for them to do together so they dont have to wait in line. At Walmart and the dollarstore, they have big tubs of foam stickers that kids love, for a couple dollars you can get enough from everyone.
6) Entertainment: We have a jumpy house, thats all the entertainment we need...You said you are in an apartment though, so that wouldnt work...Google toddler party games, I am sure you will find a ton of ideas!!!
7) Keep it simple! Splurge on a couple Themed items (cake and balloons) and use budget friendly additions (plain colored plates and cups that match the colors of the party but not the theme). Don't plan on feeding an 8-course meal, 3/4 of it will be wasted anyway! :)
If you have any other questions, go ahead and email me! I love this stuff!! P.S. I also make photo invitations! :)

Just email everyone and say "we're just having a small party this year." Really your son won't remember his bday anyway. My son will be two years in a couple of weeks and we're skipping his bday party this year. Everyone who came last year are really busy this year, so I don't want to stress everyone out, or hae noone show up. Yes presents are nice, but he has plenty of toys and clothes, so we don't really need it.

Small party - you have great suggestions already. As far as themes, I was going to do a lolipop theme (stick lolipops in the cake, then serve food on sticks - like kabobs for adults, corn dogs for kids). My son really likes lolipops, so the "food on a stick" sounded fun. My son also loves M&Ms, so was going to maybe instead do primary colors, have bowls of M&Ms out, dress us all up in primary solid colors, maybe buy him an M&M shirt, then make cupcakes with M&Ms all over it.

Mini sandwiches are great idea. You could cookie-cutter shapes out of regular loaf bread sandwiches, the cookie cutter going with your theme you choose. Someone else a while back suggested 'dips' .... do queso, do guacamole, do veggies with ranch, etc. Just lots of bowls with lots of dipping options.

Good luck. Have fun. Remember that your son won't remember any of it, but pictures are always nice.