OP here. My DH wants to do the party at the park and then move to the house if we need to. Says I'm stressing for no reason (probably true).

Thanks for all the great suggestions and the support!

Just have a playdate-type party. Buy a bag of regular balloons and let the kids toss them around. Play the freeze game with music. Play hot potato. Put out a bunch of paper lunch bags and random craft stuff and let them make hand puppets.

It's okay not to have a formal activity. Keep it low-key.

Yeah, that's the other side of this 514. I'll do all this work for a craft or a game and only have 2 kids! Well, the people who didn't RSVP are flaky in general, so I wouldn't be surprised either way. They'll probably show up on Sunday!

I love the freeze music thing. My DS will love that. Anyone know where I can pick up some bean bags quick?

Oh well, it will all work out and be fine....(deep breathing)

We moved the furniture out of our dining room and turned it into a playroom / birthday zone. You've gotten lots of great ideas for crafts. Games we like include freeze music (play music kids all dance, when music stops you have to freeze) pin the tail/hat/thing on whatever your kids favorite person is they have these at all the party places & target. Balloons! I mean kids LOVE them and they make everything super festive without any real effort. Bean bag toss, set up colored buckets of differs sizes and have kids try to get the bag in them. And if all of this is a bust free play and then send them home.

If they didn't RSVP I wouldn't count on them showing, only once have I had someone who didn't RSVP show up. Your more likely to have someone who originally said yes bail at the last minute.

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. Yeah, a couple of the kids are from her daycare and I actually do not know numbers/emails for them. I can get them from the daycare though. Some people have already said they're coming late....ugh, what a hot mess.

So what should I do? Wait until Sat. morning and make the call? Part of me wants to see what the deal is before moving it (maybe it won't be as bad as they say)....

Not sure how many kids are coming because most of them DID NOT RSVP. So rude. If all come, it would be nine. The most likely scenario is 6 or 7. My house is not big -- no room for a bouncy house and not sure how I'd work a pinata either.

I would not wait until Sat morning. If some of the kids are daycare kids, send a note tomorrow stating that if it rains, the party will be at the house and make sure you leave your phone number.

Close friends are another story. You could call/text them the day of.

9 kids is not a lot and there is always a person who is sick, forgets, can't come for XYZ reason. I often host playdates with 8 kids. the kids just play while the parents chit chat. don't stress yourself. I'd be more concerned if you were expecting 15+ kids and you physically didn't have the space in your home.

OP here again. Yeah, a couple of the kids are from her daycare and I actually do not know numbers/emails for them. I can get them from the daycare though. Some people have already said they're coming late....ugh, what a hot mess.

So what should I do? Wait until Sat. morning and make the call? Part of me wants to see what the deal is before moving it (maybe it won't be as bad as they say)....

Not sure how many kids are coming because most of them DID NOT RSVP. So rude. If all come, it would be nine. The most likely scenario is 6 or 7. My house is not big -- no room for a bouncy house and not sure how I'd work a pinata either.