Jeez... for my son's party I bought bubbles and turned on the sprinklers and filled his pool. It was August and hot as Hades. I didn't want 8 2 year olds inside, so I put them all outside in the water. They had a great time. My DH made a sheet cookie and decorated it. It was much tastier than the ones from the cookie store.

I live in El Paso, TX which is right on the Mexico border. Out here all you see are quinceanaras (going from 14 to 15). It's ridiculous the kind of money parents throw for these parties. These girls wear gowns that are just as expensive as a wedding gown, sometimes more. What's even crazier is that half these families can't afford it but they save and save and then blow it all on one day for a party. I don't get it.

LMAO

My local news/talk radio station discussed this topic last month when they heard about this mom who spent about this same amount on her kids 1st birthday.

A lot of the callers agree that it's completely ridiculous to spend these insane amounts of money on parties that the kids won't remember or that no one really can afford.

I called in and told them that for my kids 1st bday, we had family and a few close friends over, I don't think there were more than 15 people total. We have done an at home thing for each 1st bday and then for other birthdays we still don't spend too much. For Savannah's 4th bday in November, we decided to have a Princess Tea Party. We had it at my moms house and had my 3 girls and 3 friends over. They all dressed up as their favorite princess and brought a dolly. We served "tea" out of my China pot and served finger sandwiches (pb&j w/no crust) and lasgna for the adults. My gf made the cake, she made a doll cake (you know the kind with the doll in the middle and the cake is the dress). All the girls loved it and we didn't go into debt doing it.

I just don't see spending that much money no matter how important the day is to the kid.

That being said, Ido know that I am cheap, but we are happy and enjoy our outings and aren't out to impress the Jones'

Maggie

Speaking of ridiculousness... I just got an e-mail from Amazon with an offer for the new Bugaboo stroller. If I pre-order, I get free shipping! I feel like if I spend $900 on a stroller (does it change diapers?) I should definitely get free shipping!!!!

Amen about the bugaboo strollers. I have a love/hate relationship with all the parenting magazines out there that test all the new baby gear and tell you what the best is. How about the best for people that can't afford a $900 stroller and people that shop at Wal-Mart!
My daughter's 1st birthday was combined with a cook out for family and friends (her bday is in June). We also have a pool, so that's basically what we do. It doesn't cost much and parents and kids both have fun.

I'm not one for plugging books or items for people to go and buy, but I glanced through a book at Barnes and Noble called Parenting Inc. by Pamela Paul that exposes all of the hype and scams and pressure that parents face to get the 'best' and most expensive items for their babies. Parents, especially first-timers feel like they are bad parents if they don't spend that $900 on the stroller. Common sense tends to go out the window when parents think that they need the best and most expensive items for their children.

I'm tempted to go and buy it to see more about what it says.

Here's the link. I'm actually surprised I remembered the name of it, as I literally simply glanced through the book for a few seconds before I was dragged off to the children's section.

Whoops.

The actual link might help. Duh...

http://www.pamelapaul.com/books.html

Yup, we did a family thing for Lillie's first bday as well, just a cook out/pool party at my sisters. I can't say I do not go over board on somethings, but I try to keep it in check. I do LOVE the idea about the Princess Tea party! I will keep that in mind as she gets older! I am guilty of buying those small Dooney and Bourke Bitsy bags for her (but I do get them at the outlet!) But honestly, if you could see her put it on her shoulder and wave bye-bye!!!!! LOL

Well, you and I are 2 peas in a pod....as far as the D&Bs! We don't have an outlet though :(

DD always sees a purse and asks if I'm going to buy it. I actually just got my D&B catalog today and was showing them the new Hayden bag and the girls like it also....maybe I'll get one...yeah, in my dreams!

If you had a lot of money surely you'd go OTT for your kids b'days! I know I surely would - but, while we are living off 1 income & scraping up money for petrol, I think I will stick to the basics for partys!

I spent around a thousand dollars on my son's first birthday party. He was born very premature, 25 weeker, and they did not expect him to live, so when he turned 1, I had a big bash to celebrate. Now though I think about just how silly that was of me. We just had my youngest son's 3rd birthday party last saturday. We had less than 20 guests and spent less than $100 on everything, and we had a great time. I guess if people are very rich and want to go all out, then that is up to them. If I were a multi-millionaire, I would probably do things like that.

Well, I think $10,000 is nuts too, but if they have the money then why not... you can't take it with you. We try and go all out for our kids' birthdays, but I do it on a budget with a lot of work instead of dollars. My kids will be 1, 3, and 6 by the end of May. Since their birthdays are so close, we do one bigger party with three cakes ( or cupcakes). This year we are having a circus party. The kids come dressed as their favorite characters. We'll have games, a bounce house, face painting, photo cut outs, decorate your own cupcakes, and favors of clown noses, punch balloons, giant suckers, and accordian top hats. I've been fixing all the small details for a while, but when all is said and done. The whole deal should cost around $200.00 which is a party for about 36. I enjoy doing it as much as my kids enjoy having it. Being able to do this, gives me something to look forward to every year; I love seeing how far I can stretch my budget. This year's party is May 4th... here's to hoping it's a success.

Did anyone see the family on tv with 16 children (the ones that all start with J) have one big family birthday party for only a couple hundred dollars? I was impressed. They fed 100 people for under a $100!

hthomas98- I saw that show. I am a huge fan of that show. They really amaze me on how they handle 16 children. I find myself wanting to scream sometimes just with 2, so I just could not imagine 16! However, my granddaddy was number 16 of his moma and dads 18 children. That family is the Duggar family. www.duggarfamily.com

True...I just think that going over the top for a one year old is nuts. Maybe for the photos, but the kid isn't going to remember a lick of it.

I remember a couple of summers ago we went to the first birthday party of my husband's agent, and my god...it was an enormous fiesta.

They hired a party planner, Elmo was there, or rather some poor sap that had to wear a sweltering Elmo costume in the 100 degree heat, there were sparklers, lots of guests...(I am guessing that it was more networking for the adults than for the kids).
There was a chef making rather delicious Mexican food...(which is where I stayed eating burrito after burrito...) A photographer was clicking away...
It was insane.

I remember distinctly when Elmo (probably half-dead at this point) brought out the cake with the candle to the kid sitting in the middle of the backyard in a high chair. This kid was overtired, screaming, and truly unhappy with flashes going off in his face.
I felt bad for him. He did probably sleep well.

I think I just enjoy low key things.
With food, apparently.

Lilliebird, I am guilty there too...I do love the clothes and accessories for little girls. The D&B story is too adorable. You should post a pic of that.

In defense of that, though...imagine how many necessary clothes you could buy for the cost of one of those over the top parties....