Let Them Eat Cake

 

You are invited to a sledding birthday party. Dress warmly. Bring snow pants, mittens & a touque. I was 8 turning 9. 

Activity: Sledding & Crafting

I really love sledding. The tobogganing kind. 

"The dream of the endless sled ride is a fantasy born of reading too many Calvin & Hobbes strips and too few physics textbooks."  If sledding is your jam this article lists 10 of the best places to go sledding in the world. 

I think I had less fear when I was 8 & 9 but sledding is fun! I'm on the hunt for a great hill near my new home.  

My mom is an artist. She always had some craft to entertain us after we came in soggy from the snow. 

 Food: Lasagna + Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing  

I loved Garfield comics when I was in grade 3. That and Ramona Quimby. I was banned by the librarian from taking out either. She wanted me to expand my reading horizons.

I have had carrot cake with cream cheese icing every year of my life. EVERY YEAR. Why change now. I love carrot cake with cream cheese icing. L makes my carrot cake birthday cake now so that's fun. Still I have to make sure he has the ready ingredients & give tips. It really is hilarious and sweet to see him bake. Birthday traditions are actually a good thing.  They convey so many good memories. Traditions have depth & history. My brother told me that no one in my family actually likes carrot cake they just tolerate it in an effort to influence me to select something different one year. I'm banking on my mom loving it too since she made it for me all those years. If your planning to come to my party know that carrot cake is on the menu. If you'd prefer something else I am not opposed to two cakes and will gladly welcome you bringing a second cake. 

Gift: A sled... A bike

I must have received sleds a lot since one year I actually cried when I received one. I wanted a new bike like my brothers had received over the summer/fall. So the sled I received became the family sled (which it was destined to become anyways) & I had to wait until spring until I received my bike. A white bike with gears and breaks. I loved that bike. I thought it was such an upgrade from my yellow banana seat bike that had one speed depending on how fast I peddled and had thrown me over the handlebars once. 

Rambling Thoughts About Holiday Birthdays

If you have a loved one with a birthday that falls on a holiday or near a holiday make an effort to think of their birthday as unique and separate from the holiday. 

My birthday is in January right after Christmas & New Years. My due date for my daughter was my birthday. That would have been the most memorable birthday but Gestational Diabetes decided an earlier delivery. I'm glad she has her own special day. And yet my daughter's birthday falls right in between these two holidays. Having a birthday that falls so close to two major holidays can be a challenge. 

My mom tried to make my birthday unique. One thing my mom excels at is taking down the Christmas tree. That tree does not have a long life span in her home. It's up on December 23rd and down on January 7th or 8th. It is important I believe to change out decorations from one party to the next. There shouldn't be any confusion when your guests arrive over which party they are attending.

While seasonal gifts can be awesome for someone with a birthday near a major holiday receiving seasonal or holiday themed gifts is not always appreciated.  

I have heard numerous excuses why people cannot attend my birthday party including: individuals are partied out, or they are trying to stick to their New Years resolutions or they are studying for exams, or they have been just going too much & need to stay in etc. If you are invited to a birthday party but really feel taxed & feel the need to cancel commit right then & there to a rain check date & celebrate that person later with a slice of your time if even taking them out for coffee or having them over for a chat & a cup of tea. Or if you really are not friends perhaps a crucial conversation is in order, but preferably not on or right before their birthday. At any rate be kind.  

I have received countless I OWE YOU gifts and combo holiday/birthday gifts.  Please avoid the combined Holiday/Birthday gift. The birthday gifts are not as important anymore but when your 8 or 15 that's hard! 

As you get older perhaps the best approach is to start planning the birthday you want OR host a party. Now I much prefer smaller intimate gatherings of my favorites than when I was younger.  Or buy the gift you've been drooling over. A trip to the spa is always a good idea. And don't let the humbugs get you down!

A Party Planning Link & Reason to Party

In my party planning search I came across this great site from this Aussie party planning mom.  Themed parties are so fun. I love the Paris party.  I like what she says in why they party:

"For us, Parties and Celebrations are a must. They are a highlight. A bright spot. A peak in what can sometimes feel like a year of valleys. "A merry heart does good like a medicine," the Proverb says. And so it does. When things are feeling grim and heavy, throw a party."

Moving Forward

I aim to celebrate my daughter's life & birthday and make her birthday unique.  I am going to have to take up the unusual habit of boxing up the tree on Boxing Day. I am already thinking about planning my daughter's first birthday. Cake smashes seem to be the first birthday thing. Odd but interesting.  I am challenged to find friends with little friends for her to invite to the party. If you have great ideas for or have planned a first birthday party please share or link them in the comments below. 

Reader Response

How did you celebrate your last birthday? Do you have a holiday birthday & if so how do you like or dislike being celebrated?  Do you have plans for an upcoming birthday party? What is on the menu for your birthday? Do you have a favorite type of birthday cake? 

A Little Ice Cream Celebration Reveal

It's cause for celebration!

This is my 100th blog post! 

Oh right your not here for that celebration. 

Your here to find out if I am having a boy or a girl!!

So the other night L came home and told me about a co-worker and the surprise party they had planned to find out if they were having a boy or girl. He thought it was a great idea that the ultrasound technician wrote what it was on a slip of paper and put it in an envelope. Then they took the envelope to a cake decorator and had a cake made up. After they planned to invite all of their friends and family over to cut into the cake and inside would tell if it was pink a girl or blue a boy. He thought this was lots of fun! Finding out from the ultrasound technician in the clinical office was not as thrilling he said. But because I had found out it was to late to plan something like that.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!

I totally had wanted to plan a party. I even had all things pinned for such a time as this. 

As you will recall L told me he didn't want to find out if we were having a boy or girl. He said their are too few surprises in life.  I wanted to find out. He said I could. Now he is pestering me trying to find out if it is a girl or boy because I found out. 

Boys! I will never understand them.

As L is not yet a loyal reader of my blog I can post it here. 

So scoop yourself a big creamy chunky scoop of icecream and celebrate with me!

It's a..........

 Girl!! 

I'm totally thrilled. 

My heart leapt and danced a little jig when the ultrasound technician told me and I tried to fight back tears of joy and concentrate on what he was saying, but a few slipped out 'cause you know.

**Please  only post comments here.  Note if you know L in real life please try to keep the secret for him and do not post comments to instagram which is linked to his phone. Or for my facebook friends please do not comment there as facebook seems to have a wide reach.