DD is turning 7 on 10/4. We live in Texas which means it could be 100 degrees that day or rainy and cold. The weather is never predictable!

Here's my problem, this is the last year that we are going to do any kind of big party. I've told her that in the future, she can have a few friends over and maybe they can spend the night. So this could be a last hoorah of a party, I guess.

She wanted to do Build-a-Bear, which is OK. We live about 30 minutes away from the closest one and they don't have party rooms for cake and gift opening. Plus averaging $15 a bear, I told her she could only invite about 8 people. Well, my husband has talked her out of it by telling her we can have a bounce house party here. I'm a little livid. I think the selling point for her was that we could invite a lot of kids, maybe even her whole class, when normally we'd just invite close friends. My husband has no clue what I'll have to do to have my house and yard 'party ready'. Plus I think she and her friends are getting too old for that to be the activity of the party. I don't want a bunch of kids playing in the house when I've spent over $100 on a bounce house.

So now I'm making a list of party alternatives and any input you guys have (especially ones easy on the budget) would be greatly appreciated!

__________________
Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you. ~Oscar Wilde

We have done bowling parties..where we invited quite a few friends for a reasonable price, and one of our favorite parties was renting out the skating rink on it's "off" hours. It was open from 12-4pm and then 7-11pm. We rented it from 4-7...so they made extra money, and we had the place to ourselves...and could invite whoever we wanted!! My kids are a wide age span, so the little ones even got to "skate" in their socks!! They all loved it, and since it was off hours, they were very reasonable in the cost.

__________________
Shaking in my boots (well, if I was wearing them in the middle of summer!), but glad to be back!

my daughter is 9 and weve done (3) chuck e cheese , jeepers, (2) bowling , an arts and crafts place and i got a room in a restuarant and got a migician . next year she might do mini golf or there is a jumping place that just opened. mini golf is really cheap only about 4.00 a person . not sure if u have a place like that near.

__________________
Wife to Marc , Mommy to Kayla

There is a home party company that is very similar to Build a Bear but they come to your house. I can't recall the name right now, but I am sure either someone here knows or you can do an internet search to find it.

Bowling party - FamilyFun.com has a whole gang of ideas for a really unique bowling party, right down to shirts and invitations.

I teach 2nd grade and the big thing where I live for 7/8 year old girls is to go to the local beauty school and have their hair all done "up" and nails painted. The girls go home and have a fashion show/sleep over.

Another big thing is having parties at "paint your own pottery" shops. You can pick ornaments/door hangers, etc. for $5 or so bucks a piece.

I personally don't think 7 is too old for the bouncy things. Whenever we go anywhere that the bouncy things are, my 8 yr old DS loves to get in there and play. I also usually see kids up to 10-12 in them so I think you could have fun with that. If your husband was interested in the home party - he can help get the house ready. It's his child too right?? He can be made responsible for helping. Sounds like it would be a lot cheaper than some of the other alternatives and your child could have lots of friends over.

__________________
Better to give your kids the values you have
than the valuables you can't afford.

I would also suggest bowling, laser tag, miniature golf or take them to a movie.

We just had my sons birthday at our local Family Fitness. They played soccer and basketball. Not sure if your daughter is athletic but my son loved it.

I also don't think 7 is too old for a bouncy house. If you do it at home have the kids bring swim suits and do a water balloon toss and slip n slide. Even if it's raining (not storming of course) they can play outside and get wet.

__________________
Jodie....Wife to Andrew (1995)
Mommy to Riley (2000) and Wyatt (2003)

I wanted to mention too that in our community, schools can be used on the weekends for parties. There is a nominal fee for custodial services but you can rent out your school gym and bring in a bouncy thing there and maybe have access to the kitchen to keep ice cream, drinks, etc. cold. Tables and chairs all supplied - you just show up and decorate. This can be a good option for winter birthdays, large holiday gatherings or family reunions. Our schools are used a lot!

__________________
Better to give your kids the values you have
than the valuables you can't afford.

My niece is 6 yo. She still loves going in the jumpy houses too.

This b-day (for her 7th b-day) she is going to have some girlfriends over for a "spa" treatment. My sil and I are going to do their hair and paint their nails etc. My sil will order them dinner and have movies for them. I think she is having just a few friends and letting her have her 1st slumber party. Not sure though.

In the past, she's had a build a bear, gymnastic's place, painted pottery, and at home parties. (just giving you ideas)

Some of our cousin's have had bowling parties and they've been fun and per our cousins they've been reasonably priced.