We've had great fun throwing my 3 year old a colorful summer party. We choose a quiet park near our home, I hang up inexpensive inflatable  beach balls (one ball for each child, when the party is over, I pull them down and send them home with them), each child receives a "goodie" sandpail, filled with a water gun, toothbrush, animal crackers, gummy sharks, etc. Each child eats birthday cake on a colorful Frisbee, then they rinse it off and take it home along with the beach ball, sandpail, and Frisbee. Most of the above items can be purchased at discount dollar, or .99 cent stores. The cake is the best part, I bake a sheet cake, yellow or white is best, then cut into bars and layer cake, then layer of vanilla pudding, cake, pudding, etc, till I reach the top. Then crushed graham crackers are poured over the top to look like sand (make sure pudding is the last layer so the sand will stick). Put the shovel in the middle, along with the candle and sing! Don't forget the water gun/balloon toss! The photos always turn out with vibrant colors due to the green grass in the park, the sunny day, and the colorful pails, Frisbees and beach balls! To make the day a bit easier on Mom, ask each family to bring their favorite side or main dish, salad or fruit, for all to munch on. We like to bring the CD player and play some Disney tunes to keep it lively. One way to keep young guests busy is by making crayons and color pages available on the tables at all times. I have received many compliments on these fun afternoons, and I hope you do too!