Big Birthday Bash Planning

I am in the middle of planning Grace's 5th Birthday Party. Invites have been flowing out the door and ideas are bombarding me for everything from the cake, to decorations and activities. Our theme this year is polka dots and that should make things simple, but you know how that goes...

Does anyone have any great suggestions? Please feel free to put in your two cents, they may just be what saves my sanity...LOL

Here are some cakes I've been looking at:

What do you think? Is it doable? Or am I deluding myself? We did cupcakes last time and that was not easy... However, I have never worked with fondant in my life. But how hard can it be? Maybe I need to consult me friend Stacy, she is the Martha of all things cake....

Please feel free to comment and help a gal out.

Help, Advice or any Input is appreciated...

I am in the throes of planning my first ever Toddler birthday party. And I'm all by myself. Thank you so much for Sara and the other TOM girls with their helpful thoughts on my invitations. Because of them I am on my way... (on the way to what I don't know, but nevertheless I am going there!)

But now I still need help with food, decorations, goodie bags, the cake, games, what time to have the party, etc? Heck, how many kids is it sane and politically correct to invite?

As you can see I am a total novice when it comes to kid party planning. At least with my birthday I could pretend to know what I was doing and with a little help from my friend MARTHA I even lulled some of my guests into believing that. LOL

So please help a girl out and post any hints, tips or advice on my comments here...

Thank you so much.