Kids parties have changed since my day! Part 1

My eldest son turned 4 on the 14th of October, so towards the end of September with approximately 3 weeks to go I decided to throw him his first real big party with school friends (from nursery), friends from church and family, after my previous idea was dismissed by my husband.  

How hard could it be I?  Or so  I thought.  I mean basically it would be just a cake (which my sister - Evie Ogundipe, as Joshua's godmother would make and decorate), 

balloons, food for the kids and their parents and a few party games and a party bag with sweets, jigsaw puzzle, crayons and cake to take home.  Or so I thought, luckily I had my niece Ashleigh-Ann Scott, to tell me about themed parties, nevertheless as I began my research into other kiddies parties, especially with the theme he wanted - it was like entering the twilight zone - a surreal world where parties were big, bash and bold.  

Children's parties have now become like mini weddings, I blame the USA, it is a real big business.  My cleaner says that "it's not really about what the children want at all, rather it's about the parents wanting to show off and keeping up with the Jones'!"  I have to admit that my research has lead me to agree with her, children's parties are now ridiculously extravagant and may possibly take a year or more to plan.  Who has that much time in their life?  As the mother of two young children, running her own business, even with the help of an au pair, I don't.  Moreover, I must admit that if I could have afforded all the new fangled stuff, that make up a children's party in the 21st century, I would have had them.  How sad does that make me?  Really sad I think; but they really do look great to an adult and from my son's response to the pictures - to a small child as well.  

So, what are these things that I couldn't afford and had me "freaking out", in shock and feeling my age?   What had me wondering, what had happened to children's parties since my day? When all you had was pass the parcel; jelly and ice cream and we didn't even have pin the tail on the donkey or a pinata. Now children's parties have all of that, but they also have to be themed.  They have children's entertainers, which cost a minimum of £155 per hour, games stations (prices available on quotation) luckily at 4 Josh was much too young for that.  Face painting at a minimum of £85 and bouncing castles or ball parks which can only be hired for big  indoor venues from September to March, thus my house is too small.  Now that I have had my rant about the impressive looking, yet expensive world of children's parties, back to the children's party my 4 year old wanted and actually got.  

Find out what Josh got in part 2......