raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Jun 21, 2013 20:26:25 GMT -5
2 questions...
For the kid party gifts or no gifts? Ds will be 4. At most we are inviting 10 kids to jump around the gymnastics room at the rec center. I don't really want more stuff, but... Idk. We will have a family party with gifts.
Second, what was the best cake you had or have done for your kids? Last year I did a cupcake hungry caterpillar cake that ds still talks about as the favorite part of his birthday. I really don't have any good ideas for this year though.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2013 20:32:08 GMT -5
Let him look through the cake book at the bakery?
I don't know about gifts... An older kid you could have them choose a charity, say the animal shelter, and have people bring supplies instead of presents, but not sure that works with 4 year old?
Even if you say no presents, it might not work... I peronally just invite people, if they bring a gift, they get a thank you...
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doxieluvr
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Post by doxieluvr on Jun 22, 2013 6:54:50 GMT -5
Check out Pinterest for cake ideas.
I hate gifts too, but I think it's the nature of the beast. We just sold a bunch of toys at the yard sale to make room for new toys they acquire.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Jun 22, 2013 9:16:26 GMT -5
Kids Bday parties SHOULD have gifts. Please, not the annoying "charity" thing. If i want to give to charity i will. If i want to give a gift, i will. I HATE when people do that, sorry. They are kids, why can't they have gifts? What is the big deal about someone bringing a $5 or $10 gift for a kid? Let the Birthday kid have their moment in the sun.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Jun 22, 2013 9:53:59 GMT -5
I have had cakes made at the local grocery store that were cool like Barney and such. But, now that they are older, i usually just bake a simple double layer cake from a box or i pick up a premade cake at the deli.
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Formerly SK
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Post by Formerly SK on Jun 22, 2013 10:10:09 GMT -5
The popular thing to do in my area when my kids were that age was to do a book swap. Everyone brings a new book (wrapped) instead of a present and then they swap them and then everyone opens/leaves with a new book. Frankly, I don't know a single kid who doesn't already have more toys than they could possibly play with and to suddenly get 10-15 more toys only makes it worse. Who has the room to store all that crap? And seriously, materialism is so rampant nowadays I think it's rather nice if a kid decides he wants a party with his friends but not a bunch of toys. My DD is turning 7 next week and she chose going to Great Wolf with the family over presents and a party.
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moneymaven
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Post by moneymaven on Jun 22, 2013 14:18:52 GMT -5
We've thrown DS big parties the last two years. He was ridiculously spoiled. Next year, we will ask his friends to bring their favorite book instead of open ended.
I always have fun with the cake. Rae, there is a local bakery in Denver that I really love. They do some awesome cakes and cupcakes. Let me know if you want the info.
We did a small cake for DS and then a few flavors of mini cupcakes decorated with the theme.
I had other decorations that were inexpensive instead of having the cake as a focal point.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Jun 22, 2013 14:31:02 GMT -5
I think you all have convinced me to do gifts. I love the book swap idea though.
I'd love the bakery name maven. I am hoping to make his cake, but you never know. We have a lot going on lately.
I asked ds what kind of cake he wanted and he said gray and blue... Not sure what to do with that.
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Jun 22, 2013 14:55:16 GMT -5
Grey and blue--how 'bout a castle with a moat? It's actually pretty easy to make... I ran out of time for the moat on my son's castle cake, but I think it still turned out pretty well. I used HoHos for the towers (any round, flat snack cake would work), a 9x13 cake for the base--corners cut off to get the towers closer, and a 7x11 (?) pan for the second layer. My plan was to mix up some blue frosting and surround the castle with a moat. Frosting was white frosting with black gel whatever-it's-called for cake decorating. I used drinking straws to hold the towers together and added a paper flag. Then I used an Imaginex dragon and knight as cake toppers. You could also just make cake/cupcakes, frost it with grey frosting and top with blue M&Ms. I agree about just letting gifts be part of the party. Just do a semi-regular purge or toy rotation to keep the amount of toys in the house down. I think it's a good thing for other kids to learn how to pick out a special toy they think another kid would like and not just try to get a toy for themself all the time.
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steff
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Post by steff on Jun 22, 2013 17:12:33 GMT -5
Last year for kiddo's bday (kiddo is 19 now), I made him a candy cake. As I joked at the time, what 18 year wouldn't love a cake for a 5 year old. It's just a chocolate layer cake w/ Kit Kat bars and M&M's. This year I made him a "peanut butter cup" cake. Again, it's a simple chocolate cake w/ peanut butter chips added to it. Iced with melted chocolate icing & melted peanut butter drizzled over the top, surrounded by peanut butter cups.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2013 11:13:59 GMT -5
Dammit, now I want cake! Last year we did a family thing with cake and gifts. This year we are taking him to the NY Aquarium and then inviting my mom and the IL's to a hibachi place for his birthday dinner the weekend after. The actual day of DS's bday I will send him to daycare with treats for him and his class.
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taz157
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Post by taz157 on Jun 23, 2013 11:29:00 GMT -5
steff - I'm drooling over the 1st cake picture! For DD's birthday, we aren't doing anything. She'll be turning 2. When she turned 1, I make cupcakes and she had a ball with it, and it was me, DD, and DH. About 1.5 weeks after she turned 1, my mom and dad were in town so my mom helped me make DD a traditional birthday cake from her side of the family. It was great! She did get some toys that family/friends mailed to her, but I've gone through what she has. Since we are moving, we aren't doing much for her 2nd birthday considering she'll be in the area for a month anyway and really won't know too many people. Also, she's 2! She won't remember any of it anyway. I'm hoping family/friends doesn't send too much material things for her upcoming birthday as we'll be in a temporary apartment and there's only so much space.
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steff
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Post by steff on Jun 23, 2013 13:55:47 GMT -5
With teenagers around, neither of those cakes lasted long. But it was a lot of fun to see & hear the OMG! reaction when they saw the cakes. I don't have a pic, but I also made a "Dreamcicle" cake for my sis law. Used 2 vanilla cake mixes, 2 cans vanilla frosting & 2 packages of sugar free orange Kool-aid. I mixed 1 pack kool aid into 1 of the vanilla cake mixes & then swirled that with the other vanilla cake mix. It was a 4 layer cake. I mixed the other pack of kool aid with 1 can of the vanilla frosting. I alternated frosting between the layers & then iced it with the orange icing. Added orange candy slices to decoration.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jun 23, 2013 14:00:11 GMT -5
I can't imagine having a party for a 4 year old and not bringing / and the kid not expecting gifts. I know you are over gifts, but just let your kid have the fun of getting birthday presents from his friends.
My husband never had a real birthday party or got any gifts because his parents thought it was stupid and wasteful. And now my husband is all weird and bitter. So, prevent your kid from growing up all weird and bitter. Let him get presents.
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Jun 23, 2013 14:00:23 GMT -5
2 questions... For the kid party gifts or no gifts? Ds will be 4. At most we are inviting 10 kids to jump around the gymnastics room at the rec center. I don't really want more stuff, but... Idk. We will have a family party with gifts. Second, what was the best cake you had or have done for your kids? Last year I did a cupcake hungry caterpillar cake that ds still talks about as the favorite part of his birthday. I really don't have any good ideas for this year though. Is it hot where you live? Ice cream cakes are popular here. Gifts could be water balloons and squirt guns and the kids could run around the yard having fun outside. If people want suggestions. Or will they be put on the terrorists lists with those weapons?
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steff
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Post by steff on Jun 23, 2013 14:23:59 GMT -5
You could have a "kiddie 'paint' ball" game. Buy a couple of packs of large white tshirts & cheap water guns for every kid. Divide the kids into teams & each team gets a certain color (food coloring mixed with water) in their water guns. Set a number of "hits" each kid can have on his tshirt before they are out. Give the winning team some kind of cheap prize.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Jun 23, 2013 16:58:12 GMT -5
Oh I love the cakes apple and steff! I'm definitely saving the water fight idea for next year! I think I'm going to do a really basic cake with sprinkles. we have a ton going on this week, and as much as I want to do a fancy cake I realized it just isn't going to happen this year.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Jun 24, 2013 9:31:49 GMT -5
for kids that little if you aren't going fancy on the cake (which is perfectly ok) I'd go with cupcakes instead. That way you don't have to worry about plates, forks, cutting the cake, etc. Cupcakes are so much easier to serve to a younger crowd like that. You can make tie dye cupcakes super easily. Just make up a couple of boxes of white cake mix. Separate it into as many bowls as you want colors and then food color the cake. Layer it into the muffin it. One scope of each color in each cupcake space. Gives it a really cool effect that will impress the kids and parents and not really take you any extra time. I make these all the time for family functions that my nieces and nephews will be at. Top with white frosting and sprinkles.
You can request specific presents (in a pc way). State on the invite that DS is "loves to read and wants to build up his personal library" and ask anyone who wants to get DS a gift to buy him a copy of their favorite book. Or if you want to build up his arts and crafts selection ask for craft supplies.
Maybe some people will think that's tacky but I'd rather have a hint as to what the kid wants. I hate standing in the toy aisle trying to guess what a kid might like. If the parent says "Books" or what have you it makes my life so much easier.
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Formerly SK
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Post by Formerly SK on Jun 24, 2013 9:57:36 GMT -5
I can't imagine having a party for a 4 year old and not bringing / and the kid not expecting gifts. I know you are over gifts, but just let your kid have the fun of getting birthday presents from his friends. My husband never had a real birthday party or got any gifts because his parents thought it was stupid and wasteful. And now my husband is all weird and bitter. So, prevent your kid from growing up all weird and bitter. Let him get presents. I agree there is a balancing act with this kind of stuff. If your kids are passionate about some aspect of their birthday it's hard to take it away without it being detrimental. I remember as a kid really wanting a Safeway sheet cake with frosting flowers for my birthday, but my mom thought they were crap food so every year she made me a homemade bday cake. I was always so sad about it (even though now as an adult I agree her cakes tasted so much better). So, if my kids really want something I make sure it happens. In my case, maybe I'm just lucky they don't really care about gifts because both have been quite happy to give them up for something else. When DD turned six we invited her Kindy class to a bday party at the house and she was so disappointed in the gifts. Everyone had brought girly stuff (Polly Pockets, Barbies, etc) and she HATES girly stuff. She was well-mannered during the party, but after everyone left she immediately created a pile to send to Goodwill. Maybe she remembers that event and figures she'd rather get the one cool thing she wants (usually an experience) than 15 things she doesn't.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jun 24, 2013 10:13:51 GMT -5
for kids that little if you aren't going fancy on the cake (which is perfectly ok) I'd go with cupcakes instead. That way you don't have to worry about plates, forks, cutting the cake, etc. Cupcakes are so much easier to serve to a younger crowd like that. I 100% agree that cupcakes are easier than cakes - to any crowd. I love the mini-cupcakes. That way you can make some chocolate and some white, and then everyone can have 2 or 3 or even 4. Less waste. I think one box mix makes 75ish mini-cupcakes. I bought a pastry bag to ice them, so it goes quick.
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Formerly SK
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Post by Formerly SK on Jun 24, 2013 10:19:40 GMT -5
Even better, make the cupcakes but keep them plain. Then for an activity at the party you can set the kids around the table and let them decorate their own cupcakes.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Jun 24, 2013 10:29:29 GMT -5
Let's face it. No one likes having to stand there and cut the cake and listen to "I want a corner" "I want the piece with the balloon on it" "I want a bigger piece" I want a smaller piece, etc. All goes away when you can just hand them a cupcake. Every kid's cupcake has the same basic amount of frosting so no hurt feelings, all the same size too.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jun 24, 2013 10:50:19 GMT -5
I'm a cupcake devotee too.
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Abby Normal
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Post by Abby Normal on Jun 24, 2013 11:00:04 GMT -5
Every time I think about making my sons cake, I look at cake wrecks and decide not to. I have the artistic talent of a door knob.
Coolest cake- I had an acquaintance who was big into decorating. She did a jungle cake for DS's 6th bday. It was three layers, complete with trees, waterfall and animals. DS still talks about that cake. It was awesome.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jun 24, 2013 11:03:01 GMT -5
agile - I'm not much of a decorator either - but I will say that I am pretty inspired by the idea of putting M&Ms on the top. That seems like something I can handle.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Jun 24, 2013 11:06:50 GMT -5
I'm a bad mom I guess. We do store bought cakes. If they have a good decorator at Walmart they can do 3D cakes. My son wanted a big duck on year. My nieces and nephews have had horses, dogs, castles, etc. Cheap too.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jun 24, 2013 11:11:11 GMT -5
I usually do store bought cakes for birthday parties. I have enough to do, making a cake doesn't need to be on my list. Plus, if I have to transport the cake, it is nice to get it from a bakery, in a box. I make cakes for other occasions.
My daughter loves ice cream cakes - so I couldn't home-make hers anyway.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jun 24, 2013 11:18:07 GMT -5
I do store bought cakes too, actually 24 cupcakes in the shape of a cake. I bring the birthday kid to Price Chopper with me and have the kid pick the cake s/he wants out of the book.
Mom of the year, right here.
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gs11rmb
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Post by gs11rmb on Jun 24, 2013 12:12:17 GMT -5
I'm with everyone who says let the child have presents! I also get really annoyed by specific gift requests on invitations and I do think it's tacky. I ask my daughter what her friends like or I email the parents but if in doubt I buy books.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2013 12:26:13 GMT -5
I usually do store bought cakes for birthday parties. I have enough to do, making a cake doesn't need to be on my list. Plus, if I have to transport the cake, it is nice to get it from a bakery, in a box. I make cakes for other occasions. My daughter loves ice cream cakes - so I couldn't home-make hers anyway. a woman at work told me how to make an ice cream cake and it was super easy. 1 pack of Oreo's crushed half a stick of butter half gallon of ice cream 1. put half the cookies into 9x9 pan 2. melt butter & pour over cookies 3. mash cookie/butter mixture into the pan well 4. put in freezer for about an hour 5. take out ice cream and let it soften a bit 6. scoop ice cream into pan 7. top with remaining cookies 8. put back into freezer for about 2 hrs You can probably use any crumbly cookie.
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