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