We threw a Monster Truck Birthday Bash for my son's 5th birthday.  The official Monster Truck Jam came to our city; He and his father had tickets to go to the Jam that evening, so it was the perfect theme for his party that day.  The weather was extremely cold, so the party and all activities had to be planned for inside (our basement). My goal was to plan a party that would make my son feel special and be fun for five year old boys, yet keep it simple and manageable for me.  Goal achieved!  INVITATION: Sent via email to parents. Come to Josua's Monster Truck Birthday Bash. It's going to be a real smash!"  Inserted Monster Truck clip art (free) on the invitation to create theme.  Six guests invited plus birthday boy. DECORATIONS: Ordered a personalized monster truck birthday banner from www.celebrateexpress.com ($16) my one big expense.  Hung on the basement wall over the cake table. We'll keep it on the basement wall for years to come. Red white and black streamers hung from ceiling. Piece of fabric from Hobby Lobby in black & white checked squares to look like race flag over cake table.  ACTIVITIES: Monster Truck coloring pages (printed free from internet) for when children arrived. Next all boys gathered around to watch 5 minute Monster Truck video (video clips from You Tube free). Definitely got them "in the monster truck spirit!" Big Craft/activity -  Create your own Monster Truck course. Supplies for craft:  Each boy was given (1) one cardboard box - the kind that holds 6 packs of soda - flat with small lip around edge. (Free from grocery store) (2) monster truck stickers (3) ramps -small wooden triangles cut from scrap piece of 2 X 4 (4) play dough - made at home in lots of different colors very inexpensive (5) rocks - bought a bag of rocks at Home Depot for $4 (6) old matchbox cars to "jump" and "crash over." They decorated the edges of their boxes with markers and stickers. They colored their ramps with markers. They smashed mounds of play dough into the bottom of the cardboard and then stuck rocks and old cars into it for the monster trucks to run over. The boys were completely enthralled with their creations - had to pull them away for their next activity!  Played a game of "pass the car like the old game of hot potato." Winner won a prize.  Opened presents ate cake then left time for free play at the end. Party ran from 10am - 11:30am. FOOD:  I had bowls of gold fish and pretzels sitting out that's it.  I planned it to end just before lunch time as I find that kids never actually eat food at a party - they're too excited to play and only want to eat cake anyway!    CAKE: ordered a Monster Truck cake from our local grocery store (Publix).  They make cupcake cakes so no hassle with cutting pieces - each guest gets a cupcake from the cake plus a scoop of ice cream and a juice box. FAVORS:  Each boys received a "Monster Truck Bandana" to put on when he arrived (black cloth with red yellow and orange flames).  Purchased bandanas at Hobby Lobby .99 cents each.  Each boy received a hot wheels monster truck ($3.50) plus took home his Monster Truck course that he created. The challenge was planning something fun that we could do inside due to cold weather. I knew I wanted the activity to involve using the monster truck they were getting as their party favor.  In the end the boys had a blast.  They loved watching the video clips and making their own monster truck course.  One party game was plenty.  Leaving time for free play was important and welcomed. The entire basement was cleaned up within an hour of the guests leaving. Fun simple and reasonable $$ - I would do it again in a heartbeat! "