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1. Liz
   Member Profile

   I am having my son's 4th birthday party at our home, but would like to bring in a little entertainment, puppet show, magician? Anyone have any recommendations? Thanks!

   Posted 3 years ago #         

2. cruiser
   Member Profile

   

   McCain the clown is free after the 4th:)

   Posted 3 years ago #         

3. pam
   Member Profile

   Ahhh...the good old days when you invited one child for each year of your childs age and had cake and ice cream and a little game of pin the tale on the donkey. Everyone had such a good time and weren't expected to sit still and watch someone else entertain them. Save hiring the entertainment for when he's 15 and harder to please!! (ooo, I sound cynical but why is it so complicated now)

   Posted 3 years ago #         

4. RainyDay1235
   Member Profile

   

   Not sure if they have preschool-age appropriate classes, but I just read about this and think it's a great idea!

   DailyCandy Kids: A Tasty Affair
   Lovin’ from the Oven Kids Cooking Classes

   http://www.dailycandy.com/kids/seattle/article/39465/A+Tasty+Affair?utm_source=dailycandykse&utm_medium=rss

   Posted 3 years ago #         

5. mellaw6565
   Member Profile

   

   Funny Pam - there was just a story the other night on the news (I think CNN) about how "ridiculously expensive" children's birthday parties have become - especially with moms competing against each other to have the coolest entertainment.

   I'm with you - make it simple, fun and basic. Kids are creative and will make their own fun:)

   Posted 3 years ago #         

6. Kerry
   Member Profile

   Liz,

   Don't listen to the cranky ones:

   http://www.live-wires.com/children.shtml

   Posted 3 years ago #         

7. JenV
   Member Profile

   

   Liz, if you re-think having it at home, the YMCA has the BEST kids party setup. They really have it down to a science and there is no cleanup! We had my niece's 4th b-day there last year and the kids had a blast playing in the kids gym, then off to the other room for cake and presents.

   on another note, Kerry- that website will haunt my dreams...can't sleep, clowns will eat me....

   Posted 3 years ago #         

8. RainyDay1235
   Member Profile

   

   Agreed. It's a little out of control...

   Myself, I'd set up a table outside with english muffins and pizza ingredients, let them "build their own", grill them on the BBQ. While those cook, give the kids punch cards to complete "work" at different stations a la Montessori - video game, coloring, playdough etc. for a final prize if they complete their card. Feed 'em - free playtime outside, then send them all home. I'm a cheap girl myself! :)

   Posted 3 years ago #         

9. pam
   Member Profile

   Not cranky - just wish things were simpler... and don't want moms to feel suckered into having the 'big party' each year. Especially when a four year old is so happy with the box a refrigerator came in and markers to make a house/space ship/castle. Do what feels good for you and your family but don't feel obligated to entertain the other moms. Give yourself permission to simplify!! (if you want!!) or go all out.... how's that for not hurting anyone's feelings?

   Posted 3 years ago #         

10. JanS
    Member Profile

    

    Liz...if you really want to go all out - lol...or save this for when the kidleys are a little older....this man is absolutely wonderful. I met him at Thanksgiving dinner last year, and he's a delight. I have no idea what he charges, but...here's a link

    http://www.bubbleman.com/index.html
    It's a marvelous website, too ;)

    Hmmm...may have to save this for us grown-up kidlets, too :) Whaddya say, folks...should we book him to entertain US?

    Posted 3 years ago #         

11. Irukandji
    Member Profile

    

    Last Resort Fire Department (based in Ballard) will come to your home in a vintage firetruck and take kids and parents on a ride.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

12. ellenater
    Member Profile

    

    I saw bubbleman at the junction. He was very entertaining for that age group. Also, we just had my son's birthday, a pirate party. We did a treasure hunt with clues. For non readers you could do picture symbols. This is great fun to do. We found a lot of stuff at Pirate's Plunder.

    I don't recommend clowns. I am still afraid of clowns from a preschool birthday party! Clowns are scary to little kids.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

13. JenV
    Member Profile

    

    clowns are scary to grownups, too! :P

    Posted 3 years ago #         

14. Irukandji
    Member Profile

    

    I can't wait until my son's a bit older.

    I really want to have a Drag Race party where my favorite drag queens and Nascar fans can come together and create on a fabulously sparkly and fluffy Hot Wheels/Monster Trucks party.

    My child is doomed :).

    Posted 3 years ago #         

15. Luckie
    Member Profile

    

    lrukandji, can I be your friend?

    Posted 3 years ago #         

16. WSMom
    Member Profile

    

    We had our son's 6 year old birthday at home afterschool one afternoon. We invited all of the boys in his class. We ate cake and icecream, I read the kids a Pokemon book, we played pin the tail on the Pikachu, then we hit at a pinada. The highlight of the party was my husband (wearing safety glasses and a rain poncho) sitting in a chair on our patio while the boys took turns throwing paper plates filled with cool whip at him. My son loved slapstick and asked for a pie-in-the-face birthday party. Coolwhip on paper plates was a cheap substitute. We laughed until we were crying.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

17. Irukandji
    Member Profile

    

    You are my friend, Luckie, just a friend that I don't know. Do you fall into drag Queen or Monster truck Freek category?

    Posted 3 years ago #         

18. Zenguy
    Member Profile

    

    Wow, now there is a question few ever face...I call drag queen.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

19. Luckie
    Member Profile

    

    Let's just say my dream is to have Dina Martina entertain at my next birthday party.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

20. Irukandji
    Member Profile

    

    The unfortunate women at my baby shower were treated to a grown man in diapers reciting REALLY BAD poetry and making sperm and egg balloons. There were spared the genetalia pinata.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

21. Luckie
    Member Profile

    

    When I was in high school, a local mom called our drama club to ask if some of us would entertain at her daughter’s ninth birthday party. Naturally, the president and vice president of the club (me and Sheila Hill) eagerly took on the job. It would be a good chance to use our skills, and twenty-five bucks for the drama club was more than we could pass up!

    So Sheila and I conferred. She had gotten a magic set for her birthday, and I had memorized the entire poem “The Pied Piper of Hamelin.” Our show would consist of these two main features, plus some jokes. On the day of the party, we put on clown makeup and arrived at the house in suburban Portland to put on our show for the kids.

    And we were bad. Really bad. I will never forget the look of slack-jawed, silent horror on the faces of those girls as we entered and proceeded to put on our show. After about 15 minutes, we realized we were dying, and took a break.

    Huddled in the bathroom next to the rec room, listening to the happy cooing and giggling over the opening of the gifts (happiness made possible by our exit), we agreed that we were in way over our heads and the best thing to do was leave these poor girls alone and get out of there. So we ran back into the party room, told a couple jokes, bowed, and left.

    Up in the kitchen, the mom smiled sympathetically as she handed us the check. I think she realized that these two young performers had gotten their very first taste of flop sweat in her very own house.

    I imagine that this birthday girl, now a grown woman, still harps on her mother at Thanksgiving and Christmas about the horrible, horrible clowns she hired for her ninth birthday.

    The end.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

22. bcollins
    Member Profile

    Note to self: New Blog Topic...scary websites

    Posted 3 years ago #         

23. angelescrest
    Member Profile

    

    Oh, c'mon, bcollins--you're just grumbling 'cuz you can't argue feistily and say, "Nice ramble".
    :)

    Posted 3 years ago #         

24. bcollins
    Member Profile

    I'm busted!

    Posted 3 years ago #         

25. Bonnie
    Member Profile

    A friend of mine brought her kids to a birthday party where they had the Tumble Bus come to their home.

    http://www.tumblebusseattle.com/

    Posted 3 years ago #         

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