Easiest Birthday Party So Far??

For my daughters 4th birthday (which was last week) we had a bowling party. All I had to do was book the party and my hostess did all the rest. My only stressing point was it snowed the day of her party. But everyone showed up anyway. We had a great time and they even gave us an extra 15 minutes of bowling cause a couple of guests showed up late because of the snow. They didn't rush us out and we pretty much had the run of the place cause no one was there except us and another birthday party. It was great. Would def do that again. The only thing I had to buy was the cake. Everything else was supplied, even the goody bags.

You ROCK. Your son and all his friends think so, too!

btw: My son is 13 also.

the kids had fun, you didn't have to stress, your 9YO was involved, sounds like a win-win in my book :-)

IMO, a wise parent knows that the whole birthday-party-arms-race craziness is generated more by parental worries/expectations/succumbing to advertising than by a real understanding of what kids would enjoy. Most of my now-10YO DD's b-day parties have involved snacks, simple art projects, and running around on the lawn (my most brilliant discovery when they were in kindergarten and first grade - hire a couple responsible high schoolers to help out. They're energetic, not afraid to act silly, much more budget-friendly than the professional clowns or magicians, and the party guests follow them around like they're rock stars!). No theme napkins and plates (honestly, have you ever heard a kid say "the party was fun but the paper plates sucked"), fairly minimal decorations (signs my kids made), but the kids all had fun and neither my kids nor their friends complained that it was boring because it wasn't at a place with trampolines or mini golf LOL.

And the easiest party so far was their 10th, when they invited a half-dozen of their friends over, ate spaghetti and meatballs, made lanyards and friendship bracelets, and watched a couple movies on our little 20" TV before eating brownie sundaes.

If your son had fun and his friends had fun, then you did great!

I think you figured out the key. It's not about how much you plan and do, it's about how much they love their day.

I have a friend and I remember she was throwing her 8 yr old daughter a luau for her birthday. They couldn't afford a luau. She didn't have time to plan a luau. She was completely overwhelmed at the thought of this luau. Foolishly, I said, "Then don't throw a luau." She nearly stroked out on me. Her eyes got all big and she said, "You don't understand! This is how it's done at her school. You throw a party, you plan a theme, you get all the decorations, you have to plan the games, have a meal, have the cake, have the goody bag as well as party favors. If I don't do this she'll freak out! She'll never be able to show her face at school again!" I was gobsmacked. She was 8!

I think you were perfect.

Sounds right as rain!

Sounds good to me - I just did a bday party with over 35 kids at a natatorium!

Yay for you. Great job, great fun!
I can't wait for that! :)