Camo Gear
Birthday Party Planning Guide
Exclusively at BirthdayExpress.com
At ease, busy moms! We make planning a party for your regiment a breeze! Discover cool activities that will keep your soldiers entertained, and yummy recipes that will fill your mess hall with fun! These exciting party ideas are sure to get their 'attention!'.
Party Checklist
4-6 Weeks Before the Party
Select Date:
Time:
Place:
Plan a safe, inviting place for kids to have fun. Set time to 2-3 hours for young children, and 3-4 hours for older kids.
Create Guest List
Just fill out the handy list in this guide!
BirthdayExpress.com is the place! You'll find over 150 party themes, with party pack options for all of them. Expecting more guests? Choose our Pack Add-On option
Order Birthday Costume/Outfit & Gifts
BirthdayExpress.com has lots of fun choices. Look for our costumes, T-shirts, hats and special birthday gifts designed to match our party themes.
Book Entertainment (optional)
2 Weeks Before the Party
Order Cake
Schedule to pick it up one day before the party.
Let the birthday child help by adhering the stamps and putting the invitations in the mailbox.
Create List of Parent Phone Numbers
Keep on hand in case of emergency.
Plan Party Menu
Check out the recipes in this guide. Ask parents if kids have any food allergies.
Choose Party Games & Collect Party Supplies
This guide has ideas that match your party theme!
2-3 Days Before the Party
1 Day Before the Party
Make Food & Drinks, Bake/Get Cake, Buy Ice
Set out chilled/heated foods just before kids eat.
Childproof & Decorate Party Area
Remove breakable items and objects that could prevent guests from moving freely. Decorate with balloons, crepe paper, and other items included in your party pack.
Set Up Party Games, Fill Favor Boxes & Piñatas
Invite your party child to help!
Party Day!
Fill Birthday Balloons with Helium
After the Party
Activities
Camouflage Face Paint Booth
Set up a table with face paint close to the entrance of the party. Upon entering each guests can get all geared up for the party with cool camouflage face paint.
Hot Grenade
Supplies:
Amp up the fun in an explosive way with a cool game of hot grenade! Purchase a toy grenade that features a pull string. Have all your guests stand in a circle, pull the string and they pass it around. The person left holding the grenade when it begins to shake is out. The last person in the game receives a prize.
Back Pack Relay
Supplies:
Place each backpack with helmet and dog tags about 3 feet apart. Split the guests into two teams and have them line up on the opposite end of the yard. When you say "Go" the first two members of each team races to the backpacks, they then remove the contents and put everything including the backpacks on. The players then race back to their team and tag the next person, and give them the backpack, helmet, and dog tags. Repeat this until everyone has gone through the relay. The team to get everyone through the relay first wins a prize.
Drill Sergeant Says
Supplies:
This is a big kid version of Simon Says that will make them feel like they are in basic training. Simply have the children line up leaving an arm length between each other for movement. You stand in front of them and when you blow your whistle say "Drill Sergeant Says" and give them a command i.e. (do 1 pushup, 5 jumping jacks). If you give a command that is not followed by "Drill Sergeant Says" and anyone follows that command then they are out. The last player left wins a prize.
Recipes
Army Tank Cake
Ingredients:
- 2 - Boxes your choice cake mix
- 2 - Containers of vanilla frosting
- Green food coloring
- Chocolate sandwich cookies
- 3 to 4 - Chocolate Hersey bars
- 1 - Large pretzel stick
Supplies:
- 1 - 9x13 inch cake pan
- 1 - Bread or meat loaf pan
Bake 1 cake in each size pan as directed on the box. Cool completely and remove from pan. Empty vanilla frosting into a mixing bowl and add green food coloring until it has the desired color. Place larger cake on aluminum foil as the base and frost with green frosting. Place smaller cake on top. Be sure to position closer to one end. Frost the entire cake. Place 3-6 chocolate sandwich cookies on each side of the larger cake as the wheels. Break the Hersey bars into pieces and place along the edge of the large cake as the chains. Stick pretzel into the front of the smaller cake and frost.
Swamp Water
Ingredients:
- 2 - Packs of your favorite brand of lemonade powder mix
- 1 - Cup of sugar
- Green food coloring
Mix water, lemonade powder mix, and sugar as directed on the package. Add a few drops of the green food coloring and mix well. Pour into a punch bowl. Add ice if desired.
Military Mashed Red Potatoes
Ingredients:
- 12 - Red potatoes
- 2 - Tablespoons butter
- 1/4 Cup - Milk
Wash and peal approximately 12 red potatoes. Be sure to leave a small amount of skin on each. Cut each potato into cubes and place in a large sauce pot. Fill sauce pot with water and boil for about 45 minutes or until you can easily slice through cubes. Drain the water. Add butter and milk to the potatoes. Mash, mix well and serve.
Roasted Hot Dogs on a Stick
Ingredients:
Supplies:
- Wooden sticks
- Grill or fire pit
Place a wooden stick through one end of each hot dog. Hold over grill or fire pit for about 8 minutes on each side. Let cool for 2 min and serve.
Glance through the list below to see if you're missing any important items. Many can be found on the party theme page.