Ohhhhh, I feel bad for him that that happened! But maybe the fact that there was snow helped cheer him up?
We don't have family in the area, so that option is gone. We always get together with our neighbors for a meal to celebrate each other's kids' b-days. We have done friend parties when the child turns 5 till 7 and then we have come up with different ideas of fun adventures for their birthdays. Last year we had a treasure hunt in the house for dd's 11th bday. At the end of the hunt her best buddy was hiding and said surprise, let's go shopping. dh and I took the two girls shopping and for dinner. It was fun! I appreciate wanting to give the kids memories. I grew up celebrating every cousins, aunts, uncles and both grandparents b-days always at Grandma's. Good memories!!!
I haven't read any of this thread.. but here it goes...lol Being that we have 3 Christmas babies money is usually tighter than tight at that time of year! We have a cake and some ice cream for each one, and the grandma's are invited for each ones special day. They each get a gift and I make their favorite food for dinner that day. We are going to start having an "unbirthday" party in June for all 3 of them... that way we can be outside.
I'm with Sommer we have 2 Christmas babies and there birthdays are so close, and then theres mine and dh too in there along with Christmas it's all so close and money is so tight, so we do have cake for everyones birthday and do make something we all like. We use to have the girls birthday party together but know they are older they want there own and I don't blame them...
OK...I can't forget no having school on birthdays. That is a biggie! I can remember when one of the girls asked her friend, who goes to school what she was going to do for her birthday. And after finding out she had to go to school she was shocked! Thought it was standard that if it was your birthday, you didn't have school. I feel for you, who have birthdays near the holidays. Dh has his during that time also. We try to do special things just for him!
When we lived in California, dh and I had a friend whose Bday was December 24th. They almost always had an "Un-Birthday" Party for her in June or July. I think that's a great idea! And you're right, it was neat for her to be able to have an outdoor thing and be warm for the "Un-Birthday" party! We don't have family in the area either. We had some very close friends that we all considered each other family, and for years there were 3 or 4 families of us that did stuff like this together. Now the other families have moved away, and we surely do miss them, especially around Bdays and Holidays!
My birthday is 15 days after Christmas and I always hated it as a kid. Grace's bday is the end of January but Samantha is lucky. Her birthday is in June. It is so evenly spaced out between getting gifts!
Just got done decorating for the November birthdays... We have two in the family. There are blue and red and white streamers adorning the dinner room and entry way and the entryway of the kitchen. It looks pretty fabulous. Also the Happy Birthday sign that is seen when you first walk in the door. We have two children's b-days in November and the other two are late March and early April. So we try real hard to keep the decorations up to cover these birthdays!
With our Boys 16 and 9. This year for the 16 yr old we did him a suprise party ( 16 is a big event with friends and family. Most of the time we do family only party because the boys don't want a big party. We do grandparents my brother and his wife and 3 boys and my husband brother and his daughter. we either get pizza or do hotdogs and the fixing and cake. chips icecream. our oldest B-day is Oct and our youngest Drue is Jan 2nd so it is hard right after christmas. We do let them chose where they would like to eat for there B-day's. For our youngest he will be 10 on Jan 2nd so we are going to do a friend and family party for him. My boys are growing up to fast.
Elliot was pretty bummed out about his snowed out party but he had his Great Grandma and Great Uncle there plus his Grandparents. They helped cheer him up.
I gotta tell you guys about my brother's daughter's 16th bday this past March. My brother rented a limo for her and her friends - 10girls alltogether. The limo took them all out to eat - my brother paid for dinner. The limo then took them to the Houston Rodeo to see Sugarland - my brother paid for all the tickets. All the girls had matching outfits - Cutoff shorts, cowgirl shirt tied at the top, boots and ponytails. My brother bought the shirts for all the girls. He also paid for all the food and drinks at the rodeo. All the girls went back to the house for a sleepover and he took them all out for breakfast the next day. I know the tickets cost $35 each because dh bought them for him. Tell me that isn't crazy expensive!!!!
Expensive, no doubt about it! We could never afford to do something like that! But man......the memories for the girls? PRICELESS!!!
We don't really do parties. We did one for Joslyn when she turned 5, with all the kids in the family. We usually just do something just us. I do a special dinner, we take a trip to a museum or something (whatever they want to do), and we do presents at home. However, around their b-days we see my dad & step-mom, my mom & step-dad, my ex-step-mom & her family, and my dh's parents, so they can give the kids their presents (and we usually eat a meal with them). We actually don't celebrate Evan's b-day on his b-day. He was born (3 months early) 2 days before Christmas. His first b-day was forgotten by most of our family because of Christmas. So, we decided to celebrate in Feb. instead. We celebrate his b-day on the day he finally came home from the hospital. That way, no one has an excuse for forgetting & we can actually afford to buy him b-day presents without doing a b-day/Christmas present. When he's older, I'll allow him to decide when to celebrate his b-day (on his b-day or in Feb), but for right now I like doing it this way. We also take all our b-days off school. With Evan's b-day so close to Christmas, it usually starts our Christmas break.
It's great to see what everyone does for their children's birthdays. Thank You! I have another question. What do you do when your entire family wakes up the morning of the party with a cold? Do you cancel the party even though you have ordered the cake and have all the guests coming soon? Do you hold the party, but warn the guests of your illness, so they can decide whether to come or not? Do you postpone it for another day? Thanks, Bec (ugh...sneeze, cough and sniffle) We decided to cancel the party. Grandma and Grandpa might come over anyway seeing as they have the cold too.
we just had 3 kids' birthdays in october! plus my mom and step brother are in October! we usually have family parties but this year was a hastle........ My son's birthday is in june and this year it fell on a Saturday..... cool for us but my mom said she couldn't come because she had to be at the store------- she just got back from a cruise! then she was going to be gone for the twins birthday so I decided to have just 0ne October birthday.... but we just gave the kids presents from each other........ they got presents from us on their birthday plus a pinata on their birthday.......... plus all that cake!!!!!! Glad they are over for the year....... not doing that next year!
Dd's bday is 3 days before Christmas. It's different ever year lol. Last year we didn't have a kid party- no money, and just no time between pulling dd from school, trying to get homeschool stuff together ect. But we did have dd's favorite people from church over- they are old enough to be our parents and love dd. So we had them over for dinner and cake. This year I'm planning a teaparty - I think. But will have to be done long before her birthday or first week of Jan because we're going to NC for Christmas.
My tradition: We have BIRTHDAY WEEKS (!) instead of just birth-days. Their birthday week celebrations are three days before, their actual birthday, and three days after. This spreads it out, gives the focus on them for longer, and makes them feel special. I make up a list of things I want to do with/for them for each of those days. It doesn't have to be expensive, just thoughtful. Some examples: Day #1 - make a special dessert (that person's fav) Day #2 - go to McD's (or that person's favorite place)for lunch or supper Day #3 - small surprise gift (hidden w/ clues to find it) Day #4 - (actual birthday) decorate the house w/ birthday balloons, etc. Let them have the "Special Plate" to eat off of. Day #5 - make that person's fav meal for supper Day # 6 - do a special favorite activity (play fav game, go to the park, go to local museum, etc.) Day #7 - take them out for ice cream or have a friend over Many times a local activity will correspond with their birthday week and I'll add that to the list. There are MANY, inexpensive things you can do. As the old saying goes, "It's the thought that counts." It's all about focusing on that person/child, making them feel and know that they are special. (if you have any ideas to add to my list, please let me know! I'm always looking out for new things to do for our birthday weeks) We have a 'decorative flag' pole outside our home. During each person's birthday week, I hang a 'Happy Birthday!' flag. Even Mom and Dad have birthday weeks!
We moved a few years ago and our children didn't have a lot of friends yet at the time. Also, most of our family lives overseas and out-of-state. So, instead of having a 'big' birthday party, we went to Chuck E. Cheese's as a family. Even now, that's what they ask to do for their birthdays. It's located about an hour away, so we only go a couple of times a year, and this makes it more special for them. We periodically get coupons/deals in the newspaper, too, so this helps financially. We haven't had a 'traditional, big' birthday party for several years. Now that they have more friends, I may have them choose a few friends to take with them next time(s). I always buy or make a birthday cake as well. They especially like the ice-cream-cakes (all in one!). The money (not to mention time and energy!) we used to spend on having big parties with lots of kids can now go into one or nicer presents for them.
Our boys were born exactly 2-1/2 years apart (to the day!). So, we also celebrate their 'half-birthday' by giving them a small gift on their brother's real birthday. Fun! My Mom and Dad have a tradition that they've done for years. They have several small piggy banks that they put all of their change into. When it's one of their grandchildren's birthday, they give them the piggy bank. The kids put the money into their bank account and give the piggy bank back (recycle). My parents also get presents for the kids, but this is something they like to do 'on the side.'
