MOM-ents: What are some cool, fun birthday party activities?

Friday was Ryann’s third birthday, and at the risk of sounding cliché, (or knowingly sounding cliché) I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone! 

I asked her what she wanted for her birthday and she told me that she wanted cake (same thing she asked for last year, weirdly enough). When I asked her what she wanted for her birthday dinner, she responded “breakfast.” (I am assuming this is more because she loves scrambled eggs and less because she doesn’t think I can make anything else -- I hope.) 

With her “official” birthday party still weeks away ,“we” are throwing a combined party for her and Matthew. I decided to pick up her little BFF Miley after work on Friday, so that the girls could have their first sleepover.

I originally got excited thinking about how I was going to show the girls how to have a real sleepover with movies, popcorn, pedicures, etc.  However, Miley and Ryann already know it all (thanks Disney Channel). So they didn’t need my help. 

They colored, played with play dough, ate junk food until their eyes popped out, dressed up, went on a fairy hunt, “cooked” dinner and dessert for us, and slept together in their sleeping bags inside of a tent. 

They entertained each other so well that I never DID get to do all the things that I wanted to do with them.  Although I am sorry they never got around to telling “spooky stories” because they came up with that on their own and I would have liked to have heard them.

So now that we are all recovered from the pre-party, it is time to start planning the real party to take place mid-June.  Since I come from a pretty large, pretty close-knit family we have whittled the guest list down to around 90 people (this is not a joke). 

Since I was banking on the fact that Ryann more than likely wouldn’t remember her first and second birthday parties, they were both pretty much the same party spaced a year apart (don’t judge me). 

This year I want to make it a little more special, especially since I am combining the two (cheating, I know, but I don’t have the guts to ask the people I love to give up two summer Saturdays for us, especially when most of my family members are cottagers). 

So I am asking my Patch readers: What are some cool ideas for food, activities, etc. for a kid's birthday party?