Make the next child's Birthday one to remember. All childrens parties, need games so that is what we will start with. For early arrivals, give the children something to do while they wait for the rest of the guests. Have a craft table sep-up so they can make cool stuff-playdough characters, necklaces, create special birthday crowns, masks, birthday banner or individual birthday cards made special from each child. Click here: Red & Yellow's Bright Ideas: Birthdays Catch the Balloon Indoors Equipment: 3 or 4 balloons Formation: Circle Arrange the players in a circle on the floor and have them number off. Put the highest number in the center to  act as 'it'.  "IT" holds a balloon and calls  out a number while dropping  the balloon to the floor. The holder of that number then  tries to catch the balloon before it touches the floor.  If the player is successful 'it' tries another number.  If the balloon touches the floor then that player is "it". Back-to-Back Balloon Pop Indoors Equipment: A supply of balloons Formation: Pairs Pick teams of two. Have the pairs stand in a line or circle back to back, with a balloon held between their backs. On the leader's signal, the players press together, trying to burst their balloon. The first team to pop its balloon wins. If you prefer not to have winners, play until all of the Balloons are popped. Poor Kitty Indoors Equipment: 1 blindfold Formation: Circle Arrange the group in a circle with a blindfolded player in the center. Then have the players move around the circle very quietly. The blindfolded player should approach the circle in any direction and secure a victim who, in a disguised voice, says 'poor kitty' and then imitates the 'meow' of a cat. If the blindfolded player fails to identify his prisoner, he releases him and the game continues. If he succeeds, the two change places Circle Keep Away (Hot Potato)    Players form a circle. A bean bag is passed from player to player while one player sings, whistles or claps. When the music or clapping stops, the player who has the bean bag is out and sits in the center. The last one out wins. Stops should be made frequently so the game moves quickly and players will not be out for a long period. Ham and Pineapple Pizza Snacks 1 package (7.5 ounces) refrigerated biscuit dough 1/4 cup pizza sauce 2/3 cup diced ham 2/3 cup canned pineapple tidbits, drained 2/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese Spray cookie sheet with non-stick vegetable spray. Separate biscuits and flatten on cookie sheet, leaving space between so edges do not touch. Spread one teaspoon of pizza sauce on each biscuit. Top each biscuit with one tablespoon of diced ham, one tablespoon pineapple and one tablespoon shredded cheese. Bake in 400 degrees F. oven for 8-10 minutes or until biscuits are light brown and cheese is melted. For added fun: Invite each child to make his/her own pizza snack on a square of heavy duty aluminum foil sprayed with non-stick vegetable spray. Place foil squares on a cookie sheet before baking. Pigs In A Blanket 2 8 oz. cans refrigerated -crescent dinner rolls 8 Cheese-filled or regular -wieners, cut in half Heat oven to 375F. Separate dough into 8 rectangles; firmly press perforations to seal. Cut each rectangle in half lenghwise. Place a wiener half lengthwise on 1 end of dough strip. Fold dough in half over wiener; press short edges to seal, leaving sides open. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375F for 11-13 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with ketchup, mustard and pickle relish, if desired. Crispy Corn Dogs 10 Frankfurters 1 c Flour 1 1/2 ts Baking powder 1/2 ts Salt 2 tb Yellow cornmeal 3 tb Shortening 1 Egg, beaten 3/4 c Milk Oil or shortening for frying In medium bowl, mix flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt. With pastry blender or fork, cut in 2 T shortening until mixture resembles fine crumbs. In small bowl, combine egg and milk. Add to dry mixture; mix well. Pat frankfurters dry with paper towels. Dip franks into batter with tongs, being careful to coat all sides. Let excess batter drip off. Drop 1 or 2 at a time into hot oil in mini-fryer. Fry until golden, about 1 minute on each side. Insert wooden skewer in end of each. Serve hot, with mustard, if desired. BROCCOLI TREES 1/4 c Light sour cream 1/3 c Mayonnaise 1/2 ts Sugar 1 tb Lemon juice 1 tb Chopped fresh basil 4 Carrots 3 c Broccoli florets Prepare a dip by combining the sour cream, mayonnaise, sugar, lemon ice, and basil in a medium-size mixing bowl. To make the trees, cut each carrot in half widthwise and then lengthwise into four pieces.20 Assemble on a plate by laying three carrot pieces side by side for a trunk with the broccoli florets as the leaves. Spread dip under the trunks for the forest floor. Confetti Mashed Potatoes Ingredients 2 1/2 lbs.Russet potatoes, pared and cooked 1/3 cup Lowfat milk, hot but not boiling 1/4 cup Carrots, finely diced 1/2 cup Onions, chopped 2 1/2 tsp Parsley, chopped 1 oz. Butter or margarine 1/4 cup Lowfat mayonnaise 1/2 tsp. Salt 1/8 tsp.Ground pepper Directions Mash potatoes and milk with a mixer while still hot. Steam carrots and onion until crisp-tender. Add to mashed potatoes with parsley, butter, mayonnaise, salt and pepper; mix well. Party Pizza Ingredients 1 lb. fresh tomatoes 1 lb. lean ground beef 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper 2 tbsp. chopped onion 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese Directions Use tomatoes held at room temperature until fully ripe. Core and chop tomatoes; set aside. Preheat oven to 400° F. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper until well mixed. Pat into the bottom and sides of a 9-in. pie plate. Bake for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine tomatoes and onion; spread over meat. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake until hot and cheese melts, about 20 minutes. Whipped Cream Graham Cake 1 pt (2 cups) heavy cream 2 tb Honey or sugar 32 Squares (16 rectangles) of -graham crackers Sprinkles Beat cream with sweetener until stiff. Spread whipped cream heavily on one square and place it on a platter. Spread cream heavily on a second square and place it on top of the first. Continue until there is a stack of 4 squares. Press down gently on the top square so the cream squeezes out of the sides. Spread the excess along the sides. Repeat the procedure until there are eight stacks. Slide them together till sides touch to form a rectangular cake of 2 squares by 4 squares. Use extra whipped cream to smooth over all the tops. Refrigerate. Allowing it to chill several hours before serving enables the crackers to soften. A dash of sprinkles over the top adds a party flavor with adding much additional sugar. Volcano Cake Your kids will "erupt" with cheers when they see this clever cake idea. 1 box chocolate cake mix 1 can cherry pie filling chocolate cookie crumbs Chocolate ice cream Prepare a chocolate cake mix according to the package directions. Bake in bundt pan; invert onto serving platter and cool completely. Fill hole in the center of the cake with scoops of ice cream. Top with cherry pie filling (lava) and drizzle down sides of the cake. Sprinkle top of volcano with crushed cookie crumbs. Enjoy! PEANUT BUTTER PLAYDOUGH (MADE TO BE EATEN!) 12 oz Peanut butter 6 tb Honey 1/2 c (to 1 1/2 cups) nonfat dry-milk powder Combine all ingredients, add more dry milk if needed to keep it from being sticky. KIDS TRAIL MIX 4 c Chex cereal 1/2 c Dried fruit bits 1/2 c Raisins 1/2 c Yogurt covered peanuts 1/2 c Reeces Pieces Put into a large ziploc bag and shake to mix. Giant Ice Cream Sandwich Sundae 1 15 ounce pkg.fudge brownie-mix 2/3 c Water 1/2 c Oil 2 Eggs 1 6 ounce pkg. (1 cup) semi--sweet chocolate chips, if-desired 1/2 Gallon (8 cups) any flavor-ice cream, slightly-softened TOPPING: 2 c Powdered sugar 2/3 c Semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 c Evaporated milk 1/2 c Margarine or butter 1 ts Vanilla Heat oven to 350F. Line two 12 inch pizza pans with foil. In large bowl, combine brownie mixes, water, oil, eggs and 1 cup chocolate chips; beat 50 strokes with spoon. Spread half of batter in each foil-lined pan. Bake at 350F for 15 to 20 minutes. Do not overbake. Cool; freeze 1 to 2 hours for ease in handling. Remove from pans; remove foil. To assemble, place 1 brownie round on serving plate. Spoon softened ice cream evenly over brownie. Top with remaining brownie. Cover; freeze until firm. Meanwhile, in medium saucepan combine powdered sugar, 2/3 cup chocolate chips, milk and margarine. Bring to a boil; cook 8 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Cool. Let ice cream sandwich stand at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Cut into wedges; drizzle with topping. Chocolate No Bake Cookies 1/2 c Butter 2 c Sugar 1/2 c Water 2 tb Cocoa 1/2 c Peanut butter 3 c Oatmeal or: 1 c Coconut Mix butter, sugar, water and cocoa together, bring to a boil for 30 seconds. Remove from heat and add peanut butter, oatmeal or coconut. Drop on wax paper and let harden. Back to my main page.