I love celebrating birthdays. I love making a plan and making my boys (or other family member) feel special through making a special treat or going out for a day together. Over the years I have run the gamut of planning for weeks, cleaning my house top to bottom, cooking all the food, making the party favors, and accepting tons of gifts. We have also kept it simple with a meal of the birthday persons choice, cake or other dessert and a trip to the movies.
This past weekend we celebrated Mr4’s birthday. Along with his birthday we were having a few friends and family members to our new house for the first time, we were all excited! I specifically requested that folks not bring gifts and if they felt led to give him a gift I suggested a book or money towards an adventure this summer. I feel that this keeps the focus on the party and gathering instead of the presents. He had some gifts (which was fine) and they were kept for after the party when most of the folks had left.
Nope. We don’t buy our kids wrapped birthday gifts.
Mister and I don’t give our boys gifts that are wrapped but keep the party as their gift. Anything our boys have wanted they have asked their generous grandparents or other family for. We have no lack of toys in our house and the party itself is an expense.
We had everyone over at 3pm. This allowed the birthday boy to have a nap and for guests to see him and play. We visited for a bit and then had dinner around 4:30, cake and ice cream about 5:15 and then folks who traveled could get home at a decent hour. It worked out great!
I kept the menu simple with something the birthday boy loves, hot dogs, mac and cheese and salad. The mac and cheese is my favorite Baked No Boil Baked Mac and Cheese recipe, no boiling necessary and is super easy to prep ahead, boil the water and pour on when its ready to put in the oven . I put hot dogs and kielbasa in the slow cooker. Tossed salad and chips rounded out the meal. Water is what we put out for drinks. Often the grand parents ask what they can bring and I always oblige . My parents brought chips and my MIL brought the ice cream to go with the cake.
Simple ways to keep it in budget-
If people ask what they can bring, take them up on it! Side dishes, balloons, you could even make it pot luck style. People are happy to help and is another way to keep the focus on the celebration and excitement of the birthday.
Play a slide show of the birthday girl/ boy on the tv for everyone to enjoy or put out photo books of the birthday girl/boy. Make sure to have someone snap a pic of Mommy and Daddy with the kid of honor.
Keep the time of day in consideration for your party. Have a party mid-morning or mid afternoon and you don’t feel as obligated to feed your guests a meal or make people have to rethink their entire day of meals . Just have cake and ice cream and you are good to go.
Past Birthday celebrations
Meet with friends at the playground with a batch of cupcakes. The ultimate in simple, budget friendly birthday celebrations!
One of our boys wanted a pool party at our local community center but renting the pool and function room wasn’t in our budget. We invited our guests to meet us for open swim, I paid for a day pass for any guests who weren’t members. After we swam for an hour we went back to our house where I had frozen chicken tenders in the oven ready to bake with sliced veggies and fruit.
Another year I called the local fire department and asked if we could have a tour for a party. They excitedly helped me plan it out. We had our guests meet right at the fire station. The kids enjoyed a tour, they even gave them all coloring books and fire fighter hats! After the tour we went back to our house for lunch and cake.
We celebrated Mr2’s 3rd birthday at the playground. I made big loaves of French bread and made them into sandwiches, had chips and fruit and then cake and ice cream.
Remember the goal.
Are you wearing yourself out with cooking, housework and running around town for themed balloons? Does your child really and truly want these things? In my experience my boys have not even noticed if I wore myself out for days prior to the party or if I made cupcakes and brought them to the playground. Keep it simple. Simple doesn’t mean not special. Go make memories as you watch your child enjoy their birthdays and be sure to enjoy a piece of cake. You, after all, were integral in their birthday!
All great ideas and since I’ve seen you in action, think it is just terrific you manage to make things special and not break the bank. There is no reason for ordered cakes and huge ordered food! Your kids always have fun and the cakes are so special being decorated by Mom!
These are some great ideas of keeping it simple and intimate as a family.
We’ve recently had our own little birthday celebration for my son. Very simple and in our home. Also didn’t break the bank. (I still ran around like crazy though!)
Isnt it so nice when we pull off a fun time for everyone but it’s kept simple and budget friendly? I”m so glad you had a good time!