My 4 year old & 1 year old's birthdays are 3 days apart. Last year my eldest wanted a pirate birthday party. Their birthdays are in early September and we have a very large backyard and big swingset/jungle gym. INVITATIONS:   I used a blank pack from Target and on the outside put to parrots dressed as pirates that I got from clipart, one was slightly larger than the other (as the boys are :)).  I put Argh! Come Matey and celebrate the Sutton boys' birthdays!" and then inside I just put the details. DECORATIONS:  I had a little paper treasure chest and two pirate ships for the table inside.  I hung a Happy Birthday pirate streamer.  I got all of this as well as most of the hunt stuff as well at Flower Factory which now has public memberships for those in the midwest. Outside I just had red tablecloths as we would be doing more activities outside.  ACTIVITIES: This was the crazy part! We colored pirate pictures outside while all the guests arrived.  When everyone got here I had all of the kids come inside to help me bring the presents outside. While we were doing that three friends who I had secretly assigned jobs earlier ran out and hid treasure hunt things.  Another friend went in a side door and grabbed a "mystery" present that didn't have a card. After the boys opened all of their gifts the mystery present was left.  Inside was a treasure map a captain's hat and a first mate's bandana as well as cub bags (they have handles) with a pirate name for each kid.  For the map I used off-white paper and drew a map of my backyard then tore all the edges rubbed cinnamon on it and crumpled it up and flattened it back out and then rolled it up.  We started to follow the map which took us around the side of the house and "found" the compass (that I had hidden earlier) by the basketball hoop. I had gotten it from McDonald's  but you could get at FF or any other party supply store. We then went to the next spot in the fort in the swing set where there were bandanas and hats as well as one princess crown for the only girl.  From there we went to the next map spot by a tree that had patches.  At the next spot I had hidden hooks and a necklace for the princess. The next spot took us to the far side of the house by a bush. There we found Capri Suns and sat down to have a drink.  This gave my husband time to go get the treasure chest from the garage and put it next to the patio where we started.  I had gotten a plain wooden box and then rubbed some stain left from the swingset on unevenly so that it looked old.  We came back around and they found the chest which was full of candy and fake coins and jewels. Next we had a blue cake with a treasure chest and an x marks the spot candle.  My younger son had a little blue cake with a little individual cake with a pirate skull candle."