Hey, I'm Mary-anne and I'm telling about my third grade birthday party. I'm twelve right now but I think the party is still good for people older than eight especially if you want a summery-pooly-party but more than a pool. Invitations-I only invited my cousins and I just told them by phone (Hello, I was eight and I didn't invite friends just yet!)I suggest if you invite friends you invite like eight and not too much because you'll have to pay more for admission. You can also just make a word document with blue and green colors.I told them to bring a towel and goggles if they wanted, and to bring their bathing suit and an extra pair of clothes. Place-My house. They first meeted at my house at about eight and we ate before we went. We still followed the wait before you swim rule. We ate chicken wings and and pizza and then everyone changed into their bathing suit. Everyone got into my dad's van and he drove us to Planet Splash. Planet Splash's gone right now for some reason so if you live near Washington D.C. you'll just have to find another one. Go onto www.themeparks.about.com/cs/waterparks/l/blwaterparksst.htm and just look up your state. We kept everything with my mom and dad because they wouldn't be swimming. If the park's big I suggest you split everyone into groups so they won't get lost. It's easier too because some rides require pairs. Make sure it's not an odd number. We went on the rides and stuff. There was a lazy river and a water slide where you got on a float with a partner or yourself if you were heavy enough. We just hung out and played. We didn't eat there because we already ate before and the food is too pricy. A few hours later we went into the bathroom and dried off. We didn't take a shower there because it would take too long and it might be dirty. We went back in my dad's car and drove home. Some people took showers at my house and we took turns. Then we ate cake and opened presents. I didn't have favors or goodie bags because I think the party was enough. If you decide to have goodie bags you should have beach balls, lip gloss if you are a girl, sun tan lotion, and other beachy-pooly items. Even now, my cousins still remember it and said it was fun. The whole party costed a lot but not too much. I think it was about $150 or less for admission. Since we just drove there and I didn't do anything for invitations or favors the party only costed that much. It may have been less or more but since it was four years ago I can't remember.   Hope you like my ideas! Have fun planning your own party!