Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Birthday Traditions

Even though Andy and I do not have any birthday traditions of our own, yesterday (Andy's birthday) got us thinking about what sort of traditions we'd like to have for our children to look forward to each year.

I had a few birthday parties growing up, always had a cake, always had presents and always felt it was a special day. As I grew older though, birthdays quickly lost their appeal as did gifts and the only thing I really looked forward to was that birthday wish after blowing out some candles.

I had grand plans about Andy's 27th birthday - from making a homemade ice cream cake for Jeff (brother-in-law who has the SAME birthday!) and Andy when Jeff and Tammy visited this weekend to thoughtful gifts and a sweet written card from Jordan and me. None of the above was accomplished and though the weekend was filled with a visit to BJs for some birthday pizookies and pizza, Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles, ice cream cake, soda pop and lots of fun summer blockbuster viewings, I failed to put together anything even close to creative.

I thought about a birthday banner. I thought about a birthday slideshow. I thought about a birthday card. I thought about a birthday frame. Thoughts can't get you that far.

I got as far as printing photos from Costco and using existing frames we had, buying an already made red velvet cake from Costco and creating some Andy specific Cranium questions for some friends who joined us for Family Home Evening last night.

It was not what I had envisioned, not even close to the creative awesomeness that I had hoped for, but it was what it was. And over dinner at Rubio's last night, we brainstormed what sort of birthday traditions we would create for our family. Needless to say, beyond establishing that we wanted traditions, we didn't get too far as we inhaled our food and rushed home in time for FHE. I think it'd be fun to always have a photo of the birthday individual with a cake and candles and to see the changes over the years. Andy didn't let me put a candle into the cake last night or take any photos (I was immobile as I fed Jordan in the corner) so for that, I'm a bit bummed. Oh well, there's always next year. He's stuck with me for every birthday here on out, and that my friends, is so exciting.

Happy Birthday Andy and Jeff!


4 comments:

Paige Taylor Evans said...

Happy birthday (yesterday) Andy! That Andy-ium game was super fun and totally creative :)

Jeff said...

I loved the soda tasting, we will have to do that again.

my point of view said...

I know birthday traditions are important to me too and had wonder for a while what I would like to have for the future. So I thought hard and came up with two things: first, have all my family around me and, second, at the end of the day write down all of the things I am thankful. I also write down any important stories that as happen that day and seal it in an envelop, to read in the future or for my children to read. I hope that this will help you.

A Musing Mother said...

I loved my Joy School years! The curriculum is organized which makes it easy to present. It's nothing special, honestly, but the Eyres understood child attention span, parent attention span, and above all, the absolute need for mothers to interact.

Sorry. I hijacked your blog because I couldn't find your email. Because I'm rude like that.