My Daughters Turning 4 Monday. Need Ideas

Simple things that make it special - balloons, birthday plates/cups/napkins, candles for the cake, Happy Birthday sign on the wall.

I would ask the B-day child what they want for the birthday.

She is turning 4. Has she expressed what SHE wants?

You could cook her favorite foods, favorite type of cake, etc. Just paln something special with your immediate family. Maybe take her to her favorite restaurant.

I lost you when you mentioned bio dads. Do you mean you've thrown big parties in the past and bio dad didn't show? I suppose you are talking about the bio dad of the birthday child not all of the bio dads involved.

You can still make her feel special on her day and not spend a ton of money. Is she is preschool? Can you take cupcakes or donuts to her class?

Good luck

We just do core family birthday parties too. We usually let the birthday kid choose the meal (usually they choose pizza, chicken nuggets, or spaghetti). I make a simple cake, or if I am pressed for time grab one from the grocery store. A few balloons, a hand-painted "Happy Birthday" sign, and some party hats. My kids have never felt disappointed with their birthdays.
Happy Birthday to your daughter! My middle son turns 4 next month ;-)

I don't usually have a meal at a birthday party. Generally we do from 2 to 4, with punch, cake and ice cream. I DO have simple snacks out, like bowls of pretzels, goldfish and grapes. Depending on the ages of the kids we do a few games and/or crafts.
On the occasions where I have served food it's always been something easy and kid friendly, like pizza or hot dogs.
Just throw in some balloons, colorful cups and plates and a Happy Birthday banner and you're good to go.

It's the littlest things really, that make the day special. Have a few balloons for her when she wakes up in the morning, tie them to the back of her chair, serve her Funfetti birthday pancakes (recipe below) for breakfast. Make a homemade Happy Birthday sign. What is her favorite food? Serve that and a meal around it for dinner. Or serve different favorite foods as an appetizer meal. Tell her the story of the day she was born. Bake a cake or cupcakes in her favorite flavor for after dinner, cupcakes baked in ice cream cones and frosted in ice cream colors are cute, and have some more balloons to make it festive.

To make ice cream cone cupcakes bake cupcakes in liners in muffin tin with a flat bottomed ice cream cone on top. When cooled frost with icing (which you can tint with food coloring) and sprinkle with small candies or sprinkles.

http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com/funfetti-pancakes/

If we are just family..

We let the birthday girl decide. Sometimes we stay home and cook.. or if she says she want to eat out somewhere we will do that.. (Local Pizza Parlor, Local Burger place somewhere..)

We have cake with candles.. .. her favorite flavor for that year.

Sometimes, we may go to the movies, where they serve food.

Sign in the front yard. Open gifts..

Going out to the ice cream shop for ice cream sundaes.

I might order some pizzas and get some typical party snacks and cupcakes, and add some pretty decorations. Invite Grandma officially. Invite her best friend from preschool to make it extra special. Small, fun, and still a party.

go to "you tube" and look under crafts, and you can make your own pinyata (please excuse my spelling of it!) you can put whatever sweets you want them to have, not just junk foods, and you can make a little "goodie bag" with each child's name on it too! (kids love that because it seems so exciting! lol )

there are also simple crafts for youngsters and you could have them do a craft to take home too!

a lot of 4 yr olds like pizza, hot dogs,
some suggestions:
-Small children do like sandwiches cut into shapes with biscuit cutters
-Mini pizzas, made on halved english muffins.
-Strawberries dipped in chocolate - they WHOOSH off the table!
...and remember:
rule1. They don't eat much. I promise you, no matter how much trouble you go to, you will either throw it away or end up eating most of it yourselves for the next umpty-two weeks.
Rule 2: Keep it minimal and simple.
Rule three. Buy yourself a big bottle of wine! LOL

Good luck and let us know!

You don't have to do anything big but you can definitely make her day
special.
I would start by decorating the house!
Put some streamers & balloons in the kitchen so when she walks in
for breakfast she is surprised.
Put streamers hanging from her doorway so she will walk out & have her
first surprise.
Decorate the kitchen table w/pink plates & napkins (or buy her fave
cartoon character).
If you have feather boas, decorate w/those.
Take her to the park or out to a cafe for mini scones & choc milk.
For the tea party just use cute dishes, make mini sandwiches w/the crusts
cut off, serve w/punch or juice.
Serve diff types of cookies for the tea party.
Is the tea party just for you & her? It can be totally fun.
Blow up balloons & put them throughout the house (either hang them
up for decoration or fill her room floor w/them).
Take her to the mall to one of those stores where they stuff a bear.
Buy mini cupcakes from the store.
Have a little bowl of M&M's out. They're decorative & yummy.
You can make everything very simple at home.
or you can make it different by doing things like:
-going for a picnic (weather permitting)
-go to a diff park
-buy some helium balloons @ the Dollar Store
-buy plates & napkins @ the Dollar Store to make it seem festive
-make your own cookies if you're on a budget
Just do fun little things all day. Happy birthday to your little one!

i always have big intentions for a huge elebrate party that i find on pinterest but time and money it always boils down to a pinita , cake and snacks. we have done hot dogs, sandwitches, my brother bbq ed chicken legs (lots of them) and we have done chili as well. balloons and streamers and poof you got a party. i would make her favorite even if its pancakes.