Tis the season to be bouncy...

Birthday season is approaching - Mark, Andy, my brother and my Mum are all within 2 weeks of one another. Now as far as the adults go, this just requires producing of a thoughtful gift and card, but kids are a whole different ball game.

I have always been a huge fan of kids parties, we've done a monkey party, an underwater party (twice!), a barnyard bash and a building site. But this year, I have run out of steam.

As a child I loved my parties, lots of party games, stuff yourself with tea and a fab homemade cake. But last year I encountered party games resistance big time.

Now I admit, my son is a have-a-go hero - he's never met a game he didn't want to play or an activity he wouldn't try. I fully appreciate that not all kids are built this way, but I wasn't expecting the number of children in tears that I had last year. I swear I wasn't a party ogre - not participating was fine by me, but when you throw a party, you want the kids to have a good time and in my book, howling isn't part of the fun. So this year I have caved in and for the first time its to the gym for a trampoline party.

The thing that probably bothers me most about abdicating my parental party responsibilities is giving up on a theme - it may be cheesy, but our kids parties have always had one. I like the fact that it gives you a starting point for invitations, decorations, games, food - everything really. So the naff invitations supplied went in the bin and it was thinking caps on for a theme for a trampoline party. I was finding it tough, until I remembered Mark's affinity for road signs. So here are the invitations.

I'm thinking yellow tableware and perhaps an inflatable kangaroo (please have one party shop). Any other inspiration you guys?

I know the whole point of these activity parties is to stump up your cash and let it be someone else's problem, but I can't quite let go!