Birthday party phobia…or something like that.

Both Elise and Dave had their birthdays in February.  Elise turned two, so her party consisted of a couple of balloons, some cupcakes, and a one present from “the family”.  Granted, we’d only been home from the hospital for 3 days before her the day of her birthday, but I’m not sure it would have been much different had the circumstances changed.  It was all the older kids could do to wait until mid morning for her to open her presents, then they both threw a fit that they had nothing to open.  Luckily, Grandma Beeks had sent out a “get well” box which I mistook for birthday presents for Elise, so when we opened that one the little whiners were lucky enough to get a few little things from Grandma.

 

The awesome banner I made (last year, for Grace’s birthday).

 

Is is just me, or is it time for Dave to think about some serious hair removal?

The kids and I picked out some new Lego Duplo blocks for her present.  And yes, she is still wearing her pajamas and sporting yesterday’s hairdo (I am pretty sure we never dressed her that day).

Later that night we had cupcakes…(she is still wearing the same pajamas and now we are both sporting greasy hair-dos.

I should probably try harder.  As a mother.  And with birthdays.  And as a housekeeper.  And with our general appearance. 

 

Then about a week later it was Dave’s birthday, and the lameness continued.  We did go out without the kids for dinner a few nights before his birthday, which was delish, but then we ended up at Lowes, and the grocery store before the night was over.  Happy birthday honey.  On his actual birthday, the kids had another whine-a-thon, but I had prepared in advance for that by buying them each a little something from Lowe’s (doesn’t every kid dream of gifts from the hardware store?).   

 

Different banner, same handmade love.  Now Grace is the one in pajamas.  Oh, and I do have a helium tank in the basement that comes in handy so I don’t appear quite as lame in the birthday decor department.

 

The feigned surprise (he picked out and ordered his own gift—but I wrapped it!)

Werthers counts as a present right?  Hey, at least I wrapped it!

Tim Tams count as a present.  Hey, it’s from Australia…by way of cost plus world market, and it was wrapped!

Yay, Dad!

 

Gifts from Grandma and Grandpa… “Mechatronics for the Evil Genius”.  And an especially evil expression.

Here’s some of our “plan ahead” for when the kids whine about not getting to open something…the veggie tales kids growing garden:

 

Don’t ask.  And don’t ever ever ever expect me to create any kind of food art. 

So admittedly, I am not so good at birthdays.  My sisters and I are all of the same persuasion.  I guess it came from our mom.  I can remember only 2 parties with friends growing up.   With seven children, can you really blame her?  I already told the kids that they could have “friend” parties this year (for the first time), and I am wondering what exactly I was smoking when I said that and where I might be able to get some more.  There’s something about only one person getting presents that really bothers me.  I guess that’s where my kids get their issues from. 

What’s that religion that doesn’t celebrate birthdays?  I need to look into that.