2nd birthdays

What did people do for their child's 2nd birthday? DS will be 2 in May, but I am starting to think about it now because the new baby will be here late March/early April so I would like to have everything worked out before. For his 1st we rented out a mushroom at Lido Beach and invited close family, extended family, and all of our friends- almost 100 people in total. We had a music together teacher come for the kids, had tons of food to BBQ, it was a huge bash. I am not so sure I want to go all out again, especially since we will be having a christening for for DS # 2 sometime in July or August. We were thinking of just having the people who see DS on a regular basis- grandparents, great grandparents, aunts/uncles/cousins, my 2 best friends, and DH's best friend. Do you think that will offend everyone else? I think we are going to do a backyard party and I just don't have the space, time, or energy for a huge bash.
Should I get entertainment for the kids? Do favors? Is it ok to just get heros & salads, and then do coffee, fruit, & cake for dessert?

Message edited 1/1/2013 3:54:00 PM.

Re: 2nd birthdays

We just did a small family party/ backyard BBQ. The twins b-day is in May also and I had DS#3 in March. We had the baby's baptism the same weekend as the boys b-day bc we had a lot of family from OOT.

We kept it small and I don't think anyone was offended. Simple = okay!

Re: 2nd birthdays

I see nothing wrong with having a smaller party. Summer parties don't really need entertainment either which is nice. I would set up a couple of baby pools, sprinkler, water/sand table and some outdoor toys. The kids will be perfectly happy. And a craft table is always a hit. Just some construction paper, markers and stickers is sufficient.

Re: 2nd birthdays

I think it depends on the crowd you "need" to invite. With my first I did what you described - just family and close friends at our house for a bbq - there were hardly any kids besides DS so no entertainment necessary. But, for my second, we had a fairly big party at a gymnastics place - by that point there were SO many more kids we had to invite - cousins, close friends and now all of DS's little siblings were DD's friends!

Re: 2nd birthdays

I switched to having a very small party for DS second. He had no clue what a birthday was at that point... We did a restaurant. It was perfect.

2nd birthdays

DD will be 2 soon & we are keeping it real low key.

Re: 2nd birthdays

our son turned 2 last May and we had a family BBQ/toy story themed.

it was chilly but worked out perfectly!

Re: 2nd birthdays

My DD turns 2 4/27 and I'm having my second in the next 4 weeks or so. I'm just doing a small family only party at our house with pizza and cake. I may do a small home party with her friends from play group on a weekday afternoon (when we normally do our playgroup). If I do it's going to be low key, maybe some sandwiches and cake with a little party decor.

Re: 2nd birthdays

just immediate family (grandparents and our siblings) because we had a big 1st birthday!

Re: 2nd birthdays

We are doing a small one for the twins. They will be 2 in 2 weeks. We are inviting family (about 15 people) and 2 sets of very close friends.

2nd birthdays

i just started thinking about this too and my DD will also be 2 in May!!

Message edited 1/1/2013 9:32:59 PM.

Re: 2nd birthdays

I think your idea is fine. For the DS' first we also did a bigger bash - at the house, but invited EVERYONE. For his second, I just did family and friends totally understood. Granted he is a winter bday, so space is limited indoors.

For entertainment etc. - if you're having it outside esp. or even indoors- I think they can just play with toys, balloons etc.