not your traditional kid birthday. we’re reclusive, and have never managed to gather any number of his contemporaries for your regular, standard issue suburban kid party-type day. it’ll be different when he goes to school, but for now, well, we have to make do.
we started out the morning with no wrapped presents — his present was attached to the TV and running, something that didn’t happen right away when we tried last night, so it was a good thing we worked out the bugs beforehand — stressing about a non-working playstation might been a bad start on the day, but as it was, he was led in with eyes closed and presented with his heart’s desire. and he was one happy kid, let me tell you – the crash bandicoot series is lots of fun, and the learning game is among the best i’ve seen, combining your regular adventure-type game with learning letters and numbers. amazing stuff.
for the party, we drove out to simi to where aunt patty and grandma live. he played with the big doggies outside for awhile, and i sat inside with grandma and her pet ewok (cute, huh?). there were frosted brownies, still warm from the oven, for a cake, along with ice cream. yum. here are two pictures of our small gathering.
right now he’s enjoying what sounds like the cart racing crash bandicoot game. it may be a used PSone, but it’s still extremely cool.
part of me feels … like i’ve deprived him of something, not doing that full on party thing, but then again, here we are, all happy as can be, not exhausted, not cleaning up a huge mess or footing a huge bill, having a nice quiet birthday evening.
it was a good kid birthday, just not what you’d expect.
I never once had a real “kid party” growing up, and I never once missed it. It sounds like he had a GREAT birthday.
kd – that look on his face in the “party2″ pic is so precious – it tells me that kid doesn’t feel like he’s missin’ a thing. It tells me he thinks he’s King of the World…
I LOVED that KD! You are such a cool and great Mother! You are very blessed! I am glad you were able to get that grin a mom much needs on Birthday mornings!
he really is a great kid. he’s laying down watching harry potter right now, i think i might go join him for a bit — it’s been a full day, it has.
I was going to say exactly what Tess said. I don’t think you should feel the least bit guilty. It sounds like everyone had a great day.
He is such a cutie, kd. He looks like a happy kiddo.
how CUTE he is! how happy he looks!
kiddie parties are waaay over-rated and so much work! family birthday parties are really the best…
now, I’M gonna go lay down and watch harry potter with MY little boy, all 18 years and 200 lbs of him…LOL!
kd, that”s one happy kiddo there!
You’re doing fine!
yep, tess is right – kurtwood’s smile says it all: it’s the PRESENTS, stupid!
I agree with the others… a 5-year old can get overwhelmed by hoop-la, and with 25 5-year-olds all getting overwhelmed, nobody has fun. Making it HIS day is what it is all about!
Y’all look as though you had a swell time
Yum, brownies!! Frosted and everything!!! Sounds like a very cool birthday to me.
Sometimes the small celebrations are the most meaningful. In Hawai’i, it is a tradition to throw a huge 1st birthday luau/party. It’s sad cause it takes about a year to put everything together, tempers flare under the financial/logistical stress of it all and the kid? The birthday child doesn’t remember any of it. Small is good–all the attention is focused on him.
Hey, as long as the birthday boy has fun, who cares if it’s big or small?
Looks like it was a nice day for all.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
If he had fun then that is ALL that matters!
Aw, he does look so happy in that second photo! What a great great shot – that face, lookin over at you! *warm snuggly thoughts*
Meanwhile what happened the arm of the guy in the background? Ouch.
And that isn’t an ewok, it’s some kind of gremlin creature! Beware!
Judging by the smile on that kids face, I’d say he’s not feeling deprived whatsoever. And ask a kid “Hey, you wanna playstation or a party” and they’d probably choose the first one.
Happy birthday, KD’s kid!!
Sometimes, I think the big parties when they’re so young are more for US, anyways. He looks completely happy and satisfied. He’s not missing anything.
as a fellow recluse and non traditional kid pary giver, I commend you, I have been to and had/have friends that pay outragious amounts of money and exhaust themselves completly giving these birthday bashes, what I have noticed is that the kid kinda gets lost in all that. One of my friends said “I was just running around trying to make sure that everyone was happy” the question is Was the kid happy?
This year we are celebrating birthdays more than usual. It’s not easy when we have so many kids though. We always do cake, but brownies sound better. We used to not to presents. Then we did small presents and this year we are doing large present.
I guess it is all in what YOU feel like doing.
you know, this has been really good feedback. sometimes, i think those huge elablorate kid parties are more of a showoff thing for the parents, than about the kids. yesterday, it was just Kurtwood’s day, and he was happy with that.
sometimes, it’s the simple things, eh?
a day late (busy with MY grands) but a heartfelt Happy Birthday wish for your little guy – sounds to me like you have it together, kd – tenting in the front room – family birthdays – play stations – hey! it all works. The other comments are right – the smile says it all. Ease up on you – he looks to have had a great time. >..
Happy belated b-day, son of kd! And that is the scariest lookin’ ewok I ever saw.
Happy belated b-day, son of kd! And that is the scariest lookin’ ewok I ever saw.
My niece had her 15th b/d last week, and her dad this week. Neither were big party events. Dinner, presents, and cake with just fambly. Worked for the young’un as well as the old man (41…gasp!)…Kurtwood looks happy as the dickens! Ya done good, kd.
Just echoing what’s already been said. The smile on his face is indication enough. Looks like a great day.
Awww….. he looks positively in heaven. Mom, you did a super job with his birthday.
)
I always liked the birthdays where I just hung out with my folks and my brothers more than I liked “parties.” Family is best, cuz there’s no pressure – even when it’s an “05″ birthday!