How about a story. It takes up a little time and this one makes a "Jack-O-Lantern"right in with your theme. The Little Orange House (One of many versions!) A storytelling Activity Needed: Scissors and a large piece of orange paper Once upon a time a very small witch was walking in the woods. The cold wind was blowing the dry leaves all around her. The little witch was frantically searching for a house for the winter. She could not find one. Suddenly a piece of Orange paper, blown by the wind landed at her feet. She picked it up. The little witch looked closely at the paper and then she said, "I shall make myself a little house from this piece of orange paper." She folded the paper in half. Then she took her scissors (she always carried a pair in her pocket) and cut off the two corners to make a roof. (Cut the construction paper as the story indicates).I round these off. "This will do just fine," she said as she looked at her new house. "But I will need a door." With her scissors she cut a door. Since witches always wear pointed hats,she cut a special door. Cut a triangle shape with one end pointed up(near the bottom right of the paper) this is the door/mouth. The little witch walked through the door into the little orange house. It was very dark inside. She quickly hurried back out. "I will need to make a window to let in the light," said the little witch. She cut a window/eyes. (Cut a square shape in the top middle of the paper opposite end of the paper than the door. Cut through both sides of the paper.) Oh, it was a very fine looking house. Her very own little house with a roof, a door, and windows was all finished. But just as the little witch started to go inside for the winter, she saw a tiny ghost floating down the wind swept path. As the tiny ghost came to a stop near the little house, the little witch saw that she was crying. "Why are you crying?" asked the little witch. The tiny ghost stopped crying and answered, "It is cold and windy. It is getting dark. And I have no place to spend the winter." "You may spend the winter with me in my new house," said the kind little witch. "Oh, thank you, " the happy tiny ghost said as she peeked in through the window. "This is a very nice house." "First," said the witch,"I will need to make you a little door of your very own." She took her scissors again and began to cut. She cut a very tiny door. (Cut a half triangle on the folded edge of the paper between the big door and the window. Make the longer part of the triangle point up towards the window) The two happy new friends went inside. The tiny ghost went in the very little door, and the little witch went through her own special door. All winter long they lived happily together inside the little orange house. If you want to see inside their little orange house,just open your piece of paper and Surprise! The kids really love to see that the house is really a jack o' lantern.

Here's the status. Party is in 3 days and I am nervous. It's morphed into a surprise party. Karaoke or games or what? Up in the air. Costco-will roast tenderloin, perhaps on the grill, slice and refrigerate. Flowers from Costco. Caesar salads from Costco. Bought 4 meat and 1 veggie lasagnas from Gordon Food Service. I would like to doctor them up with meat sauce and gobs of extra cheese (which I bought). Dessert. Ordered a pretty and delicious cake from Dairy Queen. Hopefully it will be enjoyed by all. I made one tray of lemon squares and will make another tray in the morning. A sweet cousin my make some cookie bars. I'll get a traveler coffee from Starbucks-easy. Pick up wine, juice, water, sodas. Still need to hang and rehang lots of pictures, long story, and polish flatware and ice bucket. Thirty dinner plates are washed. Cleaned the front door area and leaves are gone. Need possible paper goods. Very tired! Thanks for all your help. Likely I will make either flourless choc cake or nut torte. Have 3 kinds of cheeses, crackers and pretzels and mixed nuts for nibbles while we all wait. Prolly will add more stuff. I'd rather fuss with flowers, decor, baskets and fabric liners, etc. I think dil will like it.

I gave both of my kids a grad party when they graduated from HS. Both were essentially the same. Sunday afternoon around 2 pm. Lots (LOTS) of munchies - chips, dips, veggies, cookies, brownies, cheese, that sort of thing. No activities were planned. I invited my close friends, and they invited their friends. I served wine for the adults, cokes for the kids. Everyone sat around munching & schmoozing and a good time was had by all. Simple. For gifts, I recommend things that have to do with the college they will be going to (for those who are going). T-shirt, sweat shirt, rug for dorm room, blanket, etc, with college logo. If they are going away to another city, books with information on that city. Mostly my kids got checks for gifts, but a few people gave them what I just named above and they liked those gifts a lot.

I'm assuming you're picking the girls up right after school. Would you rather let them go home & come over around 6 p.m. to give them time to decompress from their day at school? Just an idea, if the geographial logistics aren't impossible. I wouldn't get that hung up on having activities planned. Girls that age like unstructured play & to visit with each other in a relaxed atmosphere. You can let your daughter pick out a couple of videos @ the rental store that they can watch in the evening. Manicures are fun. Get out the plastic cover for the table & get small bottles of polish & let them do their nails. One game that my DD & her friends have always liked is the "rollers & cold cream" game. They have to completely roll their hair up in 6 sponge rollers & put cold cream on their faces. Whoever gets done first wins. I'd order Pizza in. There's something special about ordering & waiting for it to come. Sounds like fun! My daughter is having a sleepover in 2 weeks (she's 12). I think they're planning on chalking & forking boys houses & probably making crank phone calls. OH, to have a 9 year old again! Have fun!