what ever happened to simple, close family and friends coming over to the house for a few hours to celebrate, have cake, and leave?
Crazy parties for kids are total bullshit. They're either put on by rich people or put on people trying to appear rich.
Usually it's the stay-at-home mommies who try to one-up each other.
I can't stand them and refuse to go to any more.
When I was a kid, having a party at Burger King was the absolute zenith of birthdays (I never had one, of course). Now, as an adult, I go to these kiddie parties where the entire fucking hockey rink is rented out.
...so you are subjected to bs small talk with the other parents.