Birthdays are kind of a big deal in our family. Not so much in terms of large amounts of gifts or guests, but rather in the way the day is tailor made for the individual birthday person. Growing up, my mom always made our birthdays extra special, even when there was not much to make do with.
A theme was chosen--thought over, talked about and decided with plenty of advanced notice by each of us kiddos. Mom then set about creating a whole design around our idea. Cakes (or in my case pie or cheesecakes) were always homemade (except for the rare DQ ice cream cake). The decorations were never over the top, but reflected the theme perfectly. Family was always the first on the list of invites, followed by just our closest friends.
I still to this day look forward to my birthday. My husband now helps with the "plans", but my mom is always involved. Usually there is a favorite meal and dessert made for each of the "grown kiddos" on our birthdays. I still feel special and very, very loved on my birthday. Amidst all the craziness of day to day life it is still nice to have a day just to myself.
This is what I seek to do when I plan a birthday for each of my children. It is not about the presents or number of people that come. Their special day is all about being celebrated for exactly who they are at a very special time in their lives.
Today is Kaelan's 9th Birthday. Our family always lets the birthday child choose a special meal on his or her birthday but today we made a bit of an exception. We stayed home for lunch but afterwards we went out for dessert at a new little ice cream place in town called "Chill Out." They thought it was so cool that we were there to celebrate a birthday that they even gave KK a whipped cream goatee!!!
*Kaelan getting ready to blow the candle out on his custom sundae!
Kaelan was lucky this year and was able to have his birthday party this past weekend--theme Angry Bird. We had his party at one of his absolute favorite places ever--my grandparents farm.
Kaelan asked for an Angry Bird cake so I did my best to deliver. First I stacked and frosted 2 chocolate sheet cakes for the base adding green icing grass embellishments. The birds and pigs are donut holes dipped in melted, dyed white chocolate. Their eyes are piped frosting and their beaks, feathers, ears and nose are Jolly Rancher chew candies that I softened up in the microwave and hand shaped. I wish they would have turned out a little bit smoother, but Kaelan thought they looked great. For the pigs perch I used chocolate peanut butter wafer sticks, chocolate wafer cookies and rice krispie treats held together with icing and toothpicks.
To continue the theme I also used some punch balloons found at the dollar store with some hand cut cardstock embellishments to make the birds features--I made one green king pig and a yellow, red and blue bird. The kids had a blast playing with them until the unfortunately popped due to sticks on the ground and the heat.
Kaelan's favorite gift this year was this awesome lizard book, supplies for a lizard house and a gift card to get his very own leopard gecko when we return home from vacation!!! As we have a theme of naming all of the animals in our home after Disney characters, the name of this little lizard has become quite the topic of conversation. I vote for Wall-E....cause it is a lizard that clings on walls!
Kaelan had his friend Caden and his brother Carter to his party and of course his brother, sisters and cousins. The kids had a great day playing together. There was an epic water gun fight followed by exploring the pond's edge and plenty of fishing. The weather was perfect, the company amazing and the day enjoyed by all.
Happy 9th Birthday Kaelan!
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