| Are you planning a birthday party for your child or | | | | decorated in white frosting. Purchase plastic horses, |
| grandchild? Do you want it to be special and fun? Are | | | | and fences. Use green frosting for grass, frost two |
| you at a loss for ideas? Do you have a large group | | | | corners of the cake with the green frosting and |
| of people attending but are limited on what you can | | | | place the horses and fences in each corner. Decorate |
| spend? | | | | the center of the table with blue, red and orange |
| Below are some great ideas for a cowboy or cowgirl | | | | balloons to keep with the cowboy scheme. |
| birthday party. | | | | 5. Entertainment-Have the movie "Toy Story" playing |
| 1. Invitations-Cut out the form of a barn in white | | | | out of the way of the large group to keep children |
| paper. Make sure you have a barn door on the front, | | | | entertained. Also, for small children, parents may bring |
| center bottom of the barn. Take a picture of your | | | | rocking horses they can play on. |
| child dressed in a cowboy or cowgirl costume to later | | | | 6. Games-Cowboy bean bag toss and a large |
| glue inside the barn doors. Cut an opening in the | | | | cowboy poster with the head of a cowboy cut out. |
| center of the barn doors. Next, cut a piece of deep | | | | Have each child take turns getting their picture taken |
| red card stock in half, fold them in half, then glue the | | | | with their head in the cut out circle. Later place the |
| barn onto the face of each red card stock. Glue the | | | | picture on a wanted poster (small, long envelope size) |
| picture of your child on the inside of the barn door. | | | | and mail to each child. |
| You can write on the front of the card in black | | | | 7. Party Favors-Purchase miniature brown paper bags |
| marker, "Howdy Partner" "You're invited to". Then on | | | | and raffia from Target or a party store for little |
| the inside write, "You are invited to our little | | | | goodie bags. Also, purchase miniature bubble bottles. |
| cowboy's birthday party". Add where, when and time. | | | | Place a copy of the picture you took for the |
| Lastly put, "Come and enjoy some good old | | | | invitation into the slit on the bubble bottles. Lastly, |
| fashioned chili and corn bread. Dress-up your cowboy | | | | add candy or other fun items in the bags with the |
| or cowgirl for a Western picture and tell him (or her) | | | | bubbles. Hole punch two holes at the top and tie with |
| they'll have a rootin, tootin time. Hope to see y' all | | | | beige raffia. As each child leaves, give them a goodie |
| there". | | | | bag and a sheriff's badge. (Badges can be purchased |
| 2. Costumes-Most party stores have plastic cowboy | | | | at either Target or a party store) |
| hats and handkerchiefs that children can wear. They | | | | Not only will the children at the party have a great |
| both cost around $1.00-$2.00. If you want a full | | | | time, but the children will be so entertained that it |
| costume for your child, you can purchase it through | | | | affords parents an opportunity to mix and mingle. |
| costume companies. | | | | This will be a memorable experience for everyone. |
| 3. Food-A large pot of Chili can feed a big crowd with | | | | Some other fun party themes could be the following: |
| minimal cost. Add delicious corn bread, birthday cake | | | | pirate, fireman, super hero, warrior, soldiers, magician, |
| and ice cream. For the children, serve pork and beans | | | | Barbie, princess, fairy, Snow White, Cinderella, |
| and hot dogs. | | | | Sleeping Beauty, or Disney Themes. |
| 4. Decorations-Decorate the table with a red and | | | | Be creative and have a lot of fun planning birthday |
| white checkered table cloth. The cake can be | | | | parties for your children. |