I wanted to tell you ..
.. more concerning Becca’s birthday. I am quite proud how it all turned out and so glad that I put forth so much energy to make it just right.
There were a few things I focused on for Becca’s party. I wanted it to be relaxed (no crazy pressure, no ponies, no psychotic clowns), environmentally friendly (as little waste as possible) and most of all a reflection of Becca. Becca being a huge nature buff, there was no question the party should be held outdoors. Being we do not have a backyard, the next best was our local playground. It was a little frustrating to prepare the food to be transported, but in the end it was worth it.
Waste was so minimal I was shocked. We took our own garbage bag (I did not want to fill the playground garbage, trek it in trek it out), as well as our compost bin. I had purchased plates from Target, so we were covered there (And they are cute for future picnics!), the only garbage we had were from the two not so environmentally friendly items we had. Becca adores balloons, so there was no question a few had to be present at her party. She also specifically asked for those annoying squeakers, so as wishes go it was a pretty attainable one. I will be looking to see if I can create a squeaker of sorts that can be reused, rather than squeaked, chewed (ew) then tossed.
The food needed to be kid-friendly and economical. So peanut butter and honey it was! The kids loved it and it was easy to prepare and move. We had vegetables, hummus, watermelon, crackers and of course the cake. I made way to much cake (I also prepared cupcakes, somehow the cake did not seem “enough” I was wrong!) I made the cake and icing from scratch then decorated it with nature items. I also tinted the icing with a splash of peppermint to give it a “green” taste!
Becca’s crown was created by me, based on a pattern in the book “The Creative Family” (great book by the way, very inspiring). I wanted to give her something extra special, created by her mom, just for her. She has had to compromise so much this past year, she deserved an extra little something. I am going to work on a crown for Ethan as well over the winter months, so he too can be extraordinary on his special day.
Presents I am always terrible. I try to be low key, but I want to give the kids tools to explore their creativity and imagination. Becca received a second hand bike early as part of her gift, however when I saw the kitchen for $50 (!gasp!), I HAD TO BUY IT! For real the same kitchen retails for over $170! She also received a collection of new books to read, as well as a Leapster (from her brother). Every gift giving opportunity J asks me if I am going to go low key and I agree, then as time goes on I collect little things here and there and next thing I know the children as spoiled *blush*.
Are your birthday parties for kids low key or out of this world? How do you decide what to buy the kids?
What a fantastic party and a beautiful day.
How great!
You are so creative and crafty. I am in awe.
Becca looks delighted and thoroughly enjoying her party.
This is one she’ll remember forever!!!!
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Wow. You did an excellent job on that birthday!!! Very nicely done.
My kid’s parties are WAY low key. I’m not the “have a lot of kids around” kind of person, and I know it. It just drives me crazy. So usually, I put balloons up, get a cake, they have just a few friends over, I’ll make chili dogs or something for lunch, and then have cake after, and that’s it!
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That looks like it was a FUN party!!!!
This past birthday we did it at the local rec dept. instead of at home where the other 3 were. Even though we had to pay for the rental we still ended up spending less money than we did having it at home. I have been known to go a little overboard with food and decorations!! I can’t help it!!! I’m a party girl at heart!!
As for presents, the new us is planning on telling grandparents that we would prefer them to get things like a pass to a museum, zoo, etc… and when new toys come in some old go out. I am making myself NOT remember what we used to do because we are only moving forward!!!!
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So, this year we did not have a party. I’m still feeling a little guilty about that, since James was quite disappointed and expressed it. But, I keep reminding him he got Disneyland passes (way expensive) and choices have to be made. I think it is a good lesson, but it may just be a bad memory.
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What fantastic ideas! And I think I will get a copy of that book too - I have been secretly coveting it everytime I go to Soulemam blog!
I am totally a party mum. I love a big party. I kind of think that it’s a personality thing - they can be as huge or a small as one wishes. On Sat Theo is having his 2nd birthday party. We’ve hired a gym for it as our place is too small for lots of little ones and parents in the middle of winter. I have been busy trying to make things transportable ….. we’ll see
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I love the party favors, what a cool idea.
I also try to go low key with gifts for Francesco and end up collecting things as his birthday approaches. I now have a box of books, airplanes, cars, magna doodle and puzzles. I tell my husband they are going to be from his brother and I am still getting him a sand and water table. So much for low key.
I love the cake, especially for an outside party, how neat.
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Very nice Chelle!
I tend to over do and over buy for my kids too. And we have a small house so it’s bursting at the seams.
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That looks fantastic - you did a great job! We’re low key too - had a friend make a cake because I hate baking and had his best 4 friends over who we see several times a week anyway. We bbq’d for the adults (primarily) and had fresh fruit, veggies & crackers/cheese for the kids. Gifts? I am bad. I bought so many with the excuse that “It’s for his birthday!” that I had to spread them over a couple of months. They were just all things I wanted him to have anyway…sports equipment mostly, and some books. To make it special we let the kids eat on the floor for a “picnic” on a blanket…it was just like a big play date with lunch included.
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SOunds like you have a lot to focus on!
Me, I’m just coming up for air after the jet lag.
Cheers
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Super great birthday!
Yep I am all about the low key. There is a really small chance I will go back home for the kids birthdays (DH won’t be here for them) and if so I’d plan a combo party at my Grandma’s. Still low key, but so many more players since the whole family would be there.
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Very, very cool party! When we settle I want to get reusable plastic plates, too.
Last year Sam’s party was too involved on my part for what we ended up with. We had two families, they swam and had fun in the pool while I bussled and got the food ready. I made 3 salads, mini pizzas for each kid, 2 big pizzas (different recipes, all from scratch), veggie tray, watermelon, oh, and chicken brussetta. Plus the cake. In our apartment, with the limited space, it was just too much!
This year, Sam’s got a rediculous number of families coming ((more than 10 have RSVPed yes already!), so we’re doing a BBBQ out in the new BBQ area and swimming. I”ll still make ttoo much food, but it’ll be fun
Presents…we’re totally low key. We try to get Sam one ‘big’ toy (around $50) and a couple books (usually $1 each). We’re not very materialistic and we don’t want Sam to be either.
We did a very low key for Max’s first birthday so I am not one to ask or offer much experience. We are starting to get invites for parties just now. But I love the pictures.
Gifts-Dpn’t ask because he gets spoiled form all sides of the family and especially mu husband.
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You are so clever! And Becca is as cute as ever.
Don’t you think cupcakes are harder to make than a larger cake? There’s more work involved in frosting and decorating a bunch of little things rather than just one big thing…?
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i’m so glad i’m not alone in the gift category. we’ve tried hard from the beginning to only get nate one “big” gift–for his first bday he got a great wagon. but then i do the same thing, collect little things along the way that i think he’d really love. then all of a sudden he’s got more than he can ever play with. this year i was planning to give him some walkie-talkies, but the plan has now changed. i just won a big lot of geotrax stuff on ebay for cheap. so now we’re doing geotrax for bday and the w-t’s for christmas. (the w-t’s will be better at cmas when we’ll be at my parents’ house, and he’ll have my dad to play with all over their big house.)
as for the party, i’m not a “big” party person. we usually try to keep it small. i don’t even think he had a party last year. but since he was in school, we did do something there. this year, i’m not sure what’s going to happen–and it is coming fast! he really wants a pinata, though, so i might have to do something.
on the balloon front . . . my chemist hubby doesn’t like getting helium balloons because helium is a non-renewable resource. but i try to compromise by getting mylar balloons that hold their helium longer than laytex ones. last year, i got nate 3 balloons (for 3 years) and snuck them into his room in the night so that they were floating around when he woke up.
nate is currently playing with a cardboard box and having a blast. but all of my attempts to make something fun from cardboard have always flopped. i tried to make him a kitchen instead of buying one. no kidding, he kept asking me to open the box and build the kitchen. “the box IS the kitchen!” so much for my attempts at creativity!
becca’s party sounds like it was oodles of fun.
You are totally inspiring me with this post! I love all the little special touches….!
The monkey’s birthday party is in two weeks! So, I needed this!
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I love the crown you made and the thought and effort you put into your little girls special day… awesome cake too!
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What happy pics! I am so glad her birthday festivities went off so well
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