Easter Party - For the last three years, I have had an Easter Party for my two children, who are now 3 and 6. I usually find Easter themed invitations at a paper goods store that I can print myself. The invitation reads "Hop On Over for Easter Fun! Join Reed and Ansley for Egg Coloring and an Egg Hunt" (& then details about date, time, etc.)  As children arrive, child size tables are set up for egg coloring.  I ask each child to bring 1 dozen boiled eggs so I have more time to focus on the other details.  In the past, I have also set out sidewalk chalk and easter coloring books for the children to enjoy. But the most fun the children have had is petting the live baby bunnies and ducklings. I was lucky enough to find someone who raised rabbits to allow me to rent the bunnies for the party.  I rented five bunnies and found ducklings at a "feed and seed" store.  I had to buy the ducklings for a small price but the store let me bring the ducks back (but no refund). The small children need help handling the animals but there are always plenty of parents around to help.  I try to take lots of pictures of the kids with the animals to save for our Easter scrapbook and to send to parents who forget their cameras. Next, the kids enjoy kool-aid and bunny cookies on a stick.  I bought a bunny cookie on a stick pan from Wilton. I decorate each cookie (with can frosting!), cover each with a clear bag, and tie the bottom of the bag with pink and white raffia.  The cookies on a stick are not as messy as cupcakes, which I made the first year, and are much more cute. For convenience, I made the cookies the week before, froze them, and then decorated them day before the party. For the drinks, I found cute Easter themed straw cups at both Oriental Trading Company and at a local party goods store.  Before the party, I wrote each child's name on the bottom of the cup to avoid confusion and so they could take the cup home.  After the kids eat, we have the egg hunt. Each child is asked to bring their Easter basket but we have extras on hand in case someone forgets to bring one. The first year, I bought lots of plastic eggs to fill for the egg hunt.  At the end of the party, I asked each parent to leave the plastic eggs so I could reuse them for next year.  Each egg is filled with candy, stickers and small toys purchased from Oriental Trading Co.  I try to pick out the least expensive toys so that I can have a larger quantity for the children.  Since I already have the plastic eggs, my only expense each year is the egg fillers, which are relatively inexpensive.  For decorations, I fill Easter baskets with the filled plastic eggs (usually about 350 eggs) and set out Easter bunnies I have picked up at various stores. I also placed stuffed bunny rabbits (you would be surprised how many your children probably received when they were infants) around the house.  I also have a large topiary bunny (about the size of a small child) that greets the guests at the front door. The children love having their picture made with this bunny.   In the yard, I created "Mr. Macgregor's Garden."  I placed a plastic wheelbarrow and rake next to a concrete bunny. Next to the wheelbarrow, I stuck white sticks (the ones you stir paint with) in the ground with seed packets stapled to the top of the sticks. The party is a lot of fun for my children and their friends. We just moved and look forward to having our Easter party in our new hometown.