DS 1st birthday

[Party-of-five]

could you possibly take a picnic to the zoo and ask ppl to pay for themselves instead of a pressie?

[*Beema*]

Are there any nature reserves close?

Or I would just go witht he animal, jungle theme, as he probably won't get the full value out of it yet and save it for when he is a year or two older, with probably just a couple of close friends xxoo

[Mother Goose]

is there a kiddies farm near you?

or how about a good old fashioned BBQ in the park?

[ElleJay]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

We have a little park down the road (literally) from our place with gas BBQs, but where we live is so darn far from everyone we want to invite (It's always a hassle trying to get friends down here just to catch up!) that we were looking for something central for everyone.

I might have a look into the animal farm, guess I'll just wait till next year to do it. Thanks again

[ElleJay]

Thanks beansbeans I'll give them a call tomorrow and ask.
I'd planned on getting everyone to pay their own entry, and I would have only invited 3 other friends with their kids and providing a picnic for everyone and as for the animals, planning on taking them to look at the big cats and monkeys (nothing too big to start with)

BG : Thankyou so much for all the ideas Btw, the photos of Emeralds bday are gorgeous I'm such a shutterbug myself that I know I'd want to be in charge of the camera, but I think I will definitely have to get someone to do the camera because I know I'll be busy entertaining people.
Do you think the park down the road from home would be a good idea then? It's got a park/play equipment for kidlets and a gas BBQ as well.

[briggsy's girl]

for this year, a park with simple play equipment would be awesome. W may be just starting to get into play equipment and can enjoy it, and you'll not have him overly tired from having to travel etc. as i said, i LOVE the idea of the animals and things - but if you do it this year, it will be for everyone else, not W. he won't be old enough to appreciate it. i know with E, she loved the balloons and the food and smiling and talking to people - but she even as an animal lover (she adores our cat and dogs) she just wouldn't have gotten anything out of the animals cos she was just too distracted by the people and related excitement. the added bonus with park close to home is that you can migrate home if the weather turns sour or if DS needs a nap...

oh, and i hear you on the shutterbug thing - saturday morning we took oooh about 150 photos before people arrived - but once they arrived, i just didn't have time! i'm so glad i asked for someone to take the pics for us. i think, because you are organising and trying to be the ideal host, you just don't have time to think to catch everyone in a pic.