Birthday Parties Are How Much?

So Jake turns 9 the 25th of this month. Tyler turns 5 the 25th of March. This means we have birthday party planning to do. So I started pricing out parties-let me just say I am shocked! I had no idea that parties were so expensive. The cheapest party I could find, excluding creating our own, was over $100. That is just too expensive! When did parties become so involved and overindulgent?

So I gave Jake his choice of an expensive party or planning a small party where we would take them to a movie, go to dinner at Olive Garden (his favorite) and coming back to the house for cake, presents and playing. He thought long and hard about it and decided the smaller party is what he wants. I must say that I am proud of his choice. Why is it necessary to invite 10-12 people, whom you rarely talk about or play with, just to celebrate? I think when he thought about it, the smaller more intimate party was what interested him.

Tyler, on the other hand, really wants to have his at Mr. Biggs, the fun center here in town. He can have a pirate party and they can play for 2 hours and do everything they want to do. It is a little more expensive than what Jake's will be, but it will also be his first birthday party, outside of family celebrating with him. He is thrilled he can invite his new friends from school! He also is unable to really think through the process like Jake did. I am also thinking having his party outside my home might be easier, considering we are talking about 4-5 year olds and it is cold here.

Oh the choices! When is enough enough? If you go big the first year, what do you do to top it? We had friends in Oklahoma give us the best idea: one year they can have a big party and the next year just something small with 1-2 friends, alternating yearly. That way they get that dose of reality that everything does not have to big and bigger!