OK, so i really can't put them in the paddling pool for party - so what can i do?!!!

[Hattiecat]

its my 8yo dd party this evening from 4.30 - sleepover til 11am tomorrow. was going to chuck em in the garden and let them loose in paddling pool, but its bloody freezing - any ideas for party games? - have done a pass the parcel (i thought they would be too old for that, but dd said defo go for it), and got that choc game where they have to cut it up after getting dressed in daft clothes, but after that and normal musical bumps etc is alot of time to fill! help anyone?! thanks

Don't know how many you have coming, but how about a really girly theme?
Hair bobbles, ribbons, dress up, lots of music, DVDs etc. Could you devote time to manicures, nail polish or other girly activities.
Food on a pink + white or girly type theme - marshmallows, icecream, milkshakes/smoothies/mocktails, jam sandwiches, fairy cakes, hot chocolate.
Sleepover - fluffy PJs, teddy bears, hot choc, musicals dvds like Mary Poppins, Disney Stuff.
AM - smoothies, muffins, mix & match cereals, treasure hunt and tidy up.

egg/spoon race in the garden?
a mini disco?
bake and decorate muffins or a cake with them?
ask them what they would like to do, they might like to just sit in your daughter's room and gossip about all the boys they like/don't like, whilst you bring them food and drinks.

you're stars - good ideas there - its daft, but my mind had completely gone blank!!!!

How did it go? Has the house returned to normal yet?

well, i was gobsmacked by the amount of bitching that went on in little corners - how very unpleasant! i see them all in rather different ways now - one of them mithered and mithered to go first in EVERYTHING that we did, one told me with graphic description about her mum who was pregnant but had been having err difficulties shall we say. i'm knackered, and what was worse, some bugger wanted to come round the house on saturday afternoon, cos its on the market, so i ran round like possessed thing once the last one had gone home at 2:20. they all went to sleep by 1am but 2 of them were up and shouting at 4am, then they all got up at about 7am. for me it spoilt dd1 birthday - she was vile yesterday cos she was so tired and not even a word of thanks for her - huh - relations somewhat tense here!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry it didn't go quite as planned. I take it next year will be one/two very select friends for a treat - tea out, cinema, swimming or similar.
I must be a coward cos this year we are taking dd out for lunch then to a pantomime - no friends just dd, dh and me (even ds is going to granny's cos bit too young to sit for so long)

you have the right idea!i think we have spoiled her a little too much and its come round to bite us where it hurts! yes, will defo be a much quieter affair next year....yours sounds lovely - far more managealbe and realistic!

We are lucky, dd's birthday is just before xmas so school has finished and most people are doing family stuff so parties can be tricky.
Round us the form seems to be party for school friends for 5th birthday, disco or similar for friends at 10 then next party celebration is 18th. In between times it is very small tea parties or trip/treat with one or two friends (or so I have been told, we are fairly new to the area)

blimey - you're really lucky - i ahve spoken to one other mum about the sleepover thing and she wasn't keen when she had one, so we're going to try and get the other mums together and have a pact that nobody has one, that way nobody is disappointed!

Good plan

well actually, when i say nobody will be disappointed, maybe i should say they'll all be disappointed, but hey ho - itll equipment then for life