All our good works to pay down the credit cards went to hell as the party planner in our house put together a monster scary party for Hannah's tenth birthday. Not as scary as getting her ears pierced the next day, but pretty good. We did one for Ryan's birthday last year, at our old house, which was quite different with 10 eight year olds. This year we had 15 ten year olds, two Grannies (both came independently as black widows - go figure) and other assorted hanger ons including the parents servants.
Early preparation included buying up the entire Halloween inventory of at least twenty Cheap as Chips and the like, raiding costume shops and lots of full on decoration and the making of a ghost cake.
The kids had a great time and the parents were able to relax a little when all the games worked and everyone had a screaming good time.
The kids have alternating parties, so next year will be Ryan's ninth. Not sure what he will want to do. Hopefully the credit cards will have recovered from the shock.