Let me start out by saying that we ALWAYS go over the top with our childrens' birthdays. For our son's 4th birthday this year (end of July) we are having a Dinosaur Birthday Party. Everything I do looks like we spent a FORTUNE but most is dollar store stuff. INVITATIONS: Bought at the Dollar store, DECORATIONS matching decorations all had realistic dinosaurs on them. Also sent the kids Tickets that looked like event/concert tickets that said ADMIT ONE, DATE, Picture of Dinosaur, Archeological Dig at 12:30 pm, Bring this ticket with you for 1 admisstion to Zachary's 4th Birthday Dino Dig, Bring your Shovel and Pail! Also had a bar code on it and pictures of dinosaurs, very cool (Excel on card stock and cut out). So the kids are already excited and have to remember to bring their tickets and their shovel and pail. Then (we have a long driveway) they will find dinosaur footprints painted on the driveway when they come in (woods along the side of our driveway) and Dinosaur crossing Posted signs on the trees (yellow yeild looking signs with Dinosaur picture and foot prints on them). Also signs I made on the computer that say Watch out for Dinosaurs they are everywhere" with pictures (clip art) on dinos on them they will be posted along the grass too. They will enter the back yard thru a mock archway made to look like Jurassic Park entrance (if you remember that) I made from foam core board and paints with my childs name and a dino logo on the top of it. There will be a posted sign (again made on the computer) that says "All Paleontologists In Training MUST Check in for proper ID and equipment. I made name tags for them all with their names and the dinosaur picture printed on them where they are attached to Langolears (20 for $ 6.99 on Ebay)(around their necks) and a plastic Pith Helmet that I got on line ($ 24 for 16 of them!)They will also get PASSPORTS that I Made up (I have 4 diff. dino stamps) that they will get stamped after each game. ACTIVITIES/GAMES: 1st we will have the DINO Bingo Game. I just made up a BINGO Game with D I N O on the top and pictures of 16 dinosaurs on the grid. Made a 2nd set of cards to call out. Winner gets a small prize and all get a stamp in their PASSPORT NEXT - We have a large sandbox that will be covered and I will have hidden ACTUAL Dinosaur fossils that I bought on EBAY ($ 25 for 16 of them). I will post signs that say CAUTION KEEP OUT...ONLY PALEONTOLOGISTS IN TRAINING ALLOWED. ALL OTHERS KEEP OUT. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! Along with a dino picture in the background. These I will post all over the sandbox (sand will be covered until the dig) then I will set up a table for them to bring their fossils to the table where they will have large paint brushes to brush them off and magnafiying glasses (dollar store again) to look at them closer. I made up for each child their own certificate of Compleition when they are done with the dig and bags for them to put their fossils in to take home and they get a stamp in their passport. NEXT - Dinosaur Pinata (enough said!)all get a stamp in their passport also.   FOOD: Food will be Pizza BBQ Pork Sandwiches salads LAVA punch etc. DINO Cake (friend making). PRESENTS - Open presents the child who gave the present to the b'day boy gets to sit in a chair next to him to watch him open. GOODIE BAGS - purchased bags at the dollar store again (fav place) matching all the decorations and put in DINO Mechancial Pencils DINO Stickers DINO Grabbers DINO Tatoos Jelly Bracelets Candy DINO Coloring Books (girls get a little variation). Most of the decorations are hand made by myself using the computer and poster/foamcore board and some creativity. When they leave they get their last stamp in their passport that they can then get their goodie bag. That's about it! Just hope it does not rain!"