Happy Birthday Peanut!

Happy Birthday Peanut! 

I can't believe that you are actually SEVEN!  How did you get so old so fast? 

I remember bringing you home from the hospital on that warm May day.  I was experiencing a huge mix of emotions.  Happiness that you were finally here to hold.  Fear that I would do something wrong or that I wouldn't know how to take care of you.  Exhaustion from a long labor and lack of sleep.  Most of all, I was experiencing LOVE.  From the time I held you in my arms and looked into your eyes I was smitten.  Your gorgeous eye-lashes, your chubby cheeks, the way that you curled up against my chest and seemed to fit just right in my arms as you slept.  You were my baby then, and you always will be.  I love you with all my heart!

To Party or Not To Party . . . That is the Question

You can call me lazy, unkind, smart, frugal, crazy, or any number of things, but my girls are 4 and 5 and have never had an official birthday party. Don't get me wrong, we do get together with immediate family to celebrate the occasion, but we don't do themes, friends, giftbags, etc. Up until now I have never thought it was necessary. When the girls were younger, they wouldn't have known the difference. As they got a little older, I didn't want to set expectations for them that were too high. This year is the first year that I am considering it. With Peanut in Kindergarten, she now has friends that she sees all day every day . . . more often than she sees me! She has gotten invited to several parties and has now started to mention who she wants to invite to her party when she has one. She isn't assuming that she is going to have one this year (I asked), but she figures she'll have one eventually and wants to be prepared. (She's quite a little planner!) As Doc and I have begun to discuss the pros and cons of an event like this, we've remained undecided. Some of the thoughts we've had so far are:

Pros

• Peanut is quite shy and a party where she is the guest of honor might be beneficial to her developing social skills.
• It might be an easy way to meet some of her school friends and their parents.
• If we give her a budget and let her make some of the plans it could help with her understanding of money and finances. Cost benefit analysis is important even at her age.

Cons

• Stress - What if no one comes? What if everyone comes? Planning, prepping and supervising are never that easy.
• Setting up expectations. If we do a bounce house this year will she expect an amusement park next time?

In terms of expectations, one thing that I think Doc and I agree on is the fact that a party will not be a yearly event. As a child I had a party with friends when I turned 10 and when I turned 16 - milestone years. I think that limiting parties to significant milestones is a good idea, but I also think that 6 could be a milestone year as well. This is her first year of school! :o) Luckily, we have until May to decide, but I am curious . . . What are your thoughts?

Have you heard of Chocolate Cake Club?

My girls generally have so much "stuff", that for their birthdays we've been trying to do activity based gifts rather than products. Last May, when Peanut turned 5, we took the girls to a hands on cooking class. They had an amazing time! I would definitely recommend it to anyone. Other ideas that we have for upcoming birthdays are: skiing lessons, painting pottery, art classes, mini-vacations, and adventure days.

While we love the idea of family-based activities for gifts for the girls, their grandparents often prefer to give them something a little more tangible. One site that I have often recommended to them for their purchases is Chocolate Cake Club. Last year several family members purchased various cooking kits from Chocolate Cake Club for Peanut to go along with the cooking class theme. Both girls have loved using their cooking supplies throughout the year. With a mini-vacation theme coming up, I'm sure the girls would love to get their own luggage. Chocolate Cake Club has some adorable suitcases! I just know my girls would love the polka dot suitcase or this adorable toiletry bag. While I could always put this on a list to give to their grandparents, I might not have to. Chocolate cake moments is having a contest where they are giving away an adorable Spring Break Family Travel set. If I won, then instead I could ask the girls grandparents for tickets for special events or souvenirs from the trip. So, cross your fingers for me and head on over to enter for yourself too! Good luck!