Every year my daughter gets many invites to the standard places like Chuck E Cheese and the local roller rink.  Same place, one after the other.  There are so few places to have a kid birthday party in the winter. Very few of the school friends have parties at their home.  Probably because it takes a lot of work and planning!  So far I learned to get kids in the mood, dress them up!   For her first party (turning 6), she wanted boys and girls so we picked a Dalmation theme (Bow wow wow yippee yo yippee yeah Please help celebrate by birthday.... We made white felt ears with black mini pom pom spots (headbands for girls, white baseball caps for boys) and safety pinned tails on their shirts and made red ribbon velco dot closure dog collars for each guest to wear. They played doggie related games and had a white cake with black licorice gummy spots.  Of course, we played "Who let the dogs out"song PRETTY LOUD over and over due to the numerous requests and they danced. The kids LOVED it. For her 2nd party (turning 7), she begged to have a swim party.  There was no way we were renting a pool for a bunch of kids with questionable swimming capabilities.  Her birthday is in February so a water fun party outside is out of the question. Again, she insisted on a mixed party. Our solution was to invite everyone to wear swim suits or short outfits to "dive in" our indoor "pool". We took our 12 foot blow up pool out of storage and cleared the den of furniture (this was pretty hard). We blew it up and filled it with a bizzillion 9 inch balloons( oh yeah we blew and tied each one!) We brought in (cleaned it of course) our Little Tikes play slide and decorated the baby high chair as the lifeguard stand.  We put a giant blow up shark in the pool as well as bought assorted blow up pool toys, etc. I found clearance blow up rafts for each guest which we blew up for the party so they could sit on the "deck"(hardwood floor). I opened a "snack stand" at the kitchen counter area and posted assorted signs stating what was available(pizza slice or hotdog, soda or juice, chips, and popsicles from the cooler).  We played assorted beach/summer music and played assortedboard walk style beach/pool themed games with related themed prizes. There was a corner of the room named "Fawn's Fun Park" where we set up some of the indoor and outdoor playground Little Tikes style stuff.   I am told that everyone is looking forward to party three. So far, she is indicating Harry Potter.  Glad I found your web site this year.  It will be a huge help. I have a son who wants a kid party this year.  He is turning 6. His is this month (January). I am researching pirate theme. Back to back parties!!! Yikes!!!!  I may suggest the half party to my daughter so we can wait until warmer weather! Crossing the fingers!