Celebrations!

This evening I read a blog post which I catch a few times each week. The author was asking for birthday party activities for her kid. The replies really brought back memories for me. And planted some ideas for future celebrations, even though my kids are in their twenties, and the blog writer's kids are pre-K. Ha!

When one of our daughters was really young, she and her friends (we followed the rule of age-plus-one, so our kid parties were rarely overpopulated) sported princess hats - regular party hats with floaty fabric flowing from the tops. This idea came from G'ma (my mother), who saw such party favors on her annual stay at Hilton Head. It was a big hit!

At some point, we did a Pinata party. Seashell party. Sombrero party. A sleepover. (note: singular.)

One of our best (in my mind's eye) was the party when young son Graham received Dollie Golightly, the world's best pony, complete with a huge bow around her neck, found grazing in our front yard.

Our worst? Again, son Graham, who invited friends to a Super Bowl birthday. He was still quite young, early elementary, so had only a few invitees. None of his friends could "make" the party, but one. And that one? He came late, and without a gift. Happy birthday, son.

Other celebrations? Santa, one year, put us on a scavenger hunt across 15 acres, to find the kayaks he left for us.

My sister always sent us five a "take and bake" package in the mail: a cake mix and frosting that she thought each of us would like that particular year.

My mother is incredible! She sends out birthday cards to each of her kids, their spouses, and all her grandkids, and they always arrive on time. I am even challenged to get my three kids' birthday gifts out, now that they have fledged the family nest. How can I possibly aspire to getting all the siblings, SILs, AND the nieces and nephews taken care of?

Hey! Maybe...maybe that should be one of my New Year's Hopeful Aspirations!

Hope springs...eternal.