Two years ago I planned my 6 year old daughter’s birthday - we had “high tea” with finger sandwiches and petit fours, 20 guests, a bouncy castle, a custom cake. It was an amazing memory - we all had so much fun.

Last year I planned my son’s 5th birthday.

We had 2 friends, a home made cake, threw some balloons on the floor and planned to play “Simon Says” and “Dinosaur Stomp”

It was an amazing memory - we all had so much fun.

We want to give our kids EVERYTHING, don’t we? We want birthdays to be “the way they used to be” and sometimes feel bad that they have to be celebrated with just our family, or our social bubble, or one friend outside.

But do you want to know a secret?

Kids only NEED three things for a wonderful birthday.

Sugar

(I bet you thought I’d say something profound but really, kids just want sugar. What can ya do?)

Family

I often ask kids to tell be about their weekends or their holidays or their best memories, and you know what they inevitably say? Being with their family. It’s that simple. Kids want your attention, your listening ear, your hug, your smiles, and to feel special. That’s the BEST thing about birthdays, it’s a day to celebrate with the people who love you - how could anything be better?

The word “Yes”

Can we put a tent in the back? YES. Can we order pizza? YES. Can we turn the living room into a movie theatre? YES.

Kids come up with way better ideas than we do anyway, and the more you can say “yes”, the more fun you will all have. You don’t need 50 people, or a ton of gifts, you don’t need a perfect theme, or going out to a party location, you just need to let their imaginations go wild and come alongside them. Do that, and you’ll have a birthday to remember.

Roo’s 6th Birthday

So what did this 6 year old boy want for his birthday?

A bunny cake.

(awwww…. it’s ok to say it, his mama and I pretty much melted over this last little nod to his babyhood - he loves his “bunny”)

Us.

This year has turned friends into family. When you are limited in who you can see, the people who see you through the hard times become family. When the kids in these pictures were babies, we used to wonder if they would EVER play together and leave us to our tea and chats. And now they are all best friends and we couldn’t be happier. And the icing on the cake for Roo? His very first SLEEPOVER with his friend Daniel.

And also…

Steak for breakfast.

Chicken Wings & Hamburgers

he loves his food!