My sister, Becca, and Sam had been here with the kids while Scott and I were at Chosen for Life conference. Go HERE to read about our time there.
I bought a simple cake at Publix, added some tissue paper and cupcakes around it
and Evie thought it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen~
{I even wrote the words myself}
My Thoughts on Birthdays and Parties:
Why are we so sure big birthdays and big parties are the way to do a birthday right? I used to worry more about how everything looked or if the gifts were grand over the happiness of my children. Don't get me wrong... they LOVED their birthdays and the parties I threw but looking back, I might have been a little crazy.
Then in time I wearied at the thought of pulling off a big shindig, so I asked if they would rather have a party or use the money for something they wanted. They always chose the money and it ended up being a much simpler and fun time.
Now with the littles, it has simplified even more. There are no big parties thrown although we have a big family. I know being a homeschool family makes this whole idea of keeping it simple way easier!
I've wised up in my middle age...
~ Kids don't need big parties or big cakes to have fun.
I was talking to Savannah this week and we laughed at the thought of her looking back over her albums and thanking me for that big elaborate cake on her 5th birthday. Honestly it's the only one she does remember (grocery store bought) because she tried to move it from one room to the other and dropped it top down onto the floor. :) A sweet memory!!!
~ Kids don't need lots of gifts to feel special.
How many times have we thrown big parties and end up with a bunch of gifts that were little to be desired. Now what to do with all that stuff? Can you see how that would be a problem with a big family? Chances are our children will remember one special gift given to them on certain birthdays, and talk about it in future years. The big girls still talk about American Girl dolls they received and playing with them together. I find giving our children gifts that make them want to play with each other are the best!!!
~Kids don't need extravagance to feel loved.
A big party, cake, and lots of gifts might make a child happy for a time, but we all know that fades away in time. TIME is how a child feels love. Time spent planning a family party. Time spent singing to them, eating cake, and opening gifts is special, but choosing to sit down and play with their things together is where the love happens. Yes Evie, let's play that game for the 1000th time or yes SJ, let's bake cookies in the easybake again. Time equals love, and you can't get it back so do while you still can!!!
