monday minute - birthday tradition

Rise and shine, it's ONE degree outside! Remind me again why I live somewhere that would be so cold?!

Monday's are not usually a day I post because I try to make the weekends pure family time and that would mean I'd have to write a post for Monday on Friday and let's be honest, that kind of advanced preparation is just not happening. But from time to time, there are quick little things I want to share. Not in a big long post, but just a quick 'hey, check it out' way. Hence the not promised to at all be regularly scheduled new series, Monday Minute.

Yesterday we celebrated Eve's birthday. My baby is four (insert tears here) and so we celebrated. Kids birthdays could be an entire series on their own, and I know when talking with friends the phrase 'kid's birthday party' is a lightening rod. I'm not going to get into all of that except to say that I tend to revolt against that type of parental pressure. We don't do huge birthday parties (except for the 1st birthday which is really more of a celebration for the parents who made it thru the first year). But, we do have several family birthday traditions. And the biggest hit without a doubt is the tradition of decorating the birthday tablecloth.

Easy as can be. I roll out brown craft paper on the table, bring out the always under lock and key and therefore a treat in and of it self - MARKERS and let the girls go to town. I always do their name, because they usually want it really big (duh) but they do the rest. They have usually picked out a theme of sorts, Eve's was rainbows, and we just have a free for all color session.

I let them trace a plate at each seat and then determine the seating chart. It gives very anxious birthday people something to occupy their time, it gives them some 'control' that they are determining what their party will look like and they are always thrilled when the guests arrive and they can show everyone their seat.

Add a rainbow of balloons (the yellow popped early but the extra pink was happy to stand in) and whatever flower the birthday girl picks from Trader Joe's (another birthday tradition) and voila - birthday prep complete. We also always get a cookie amuse-bouche at the bakery when we pick up the cake. A bunch of little traditions add up to a lot of things to look forward to.

Nothing pinworthy or pintastic, but something the girls love. And the older they get, the more they talk about what they will be putting on their birthday tablecloth days (or weeks) before the big day.

Happy girls = happy parents.

Do you have fun family traditions for birthdays? Anything your kids look forward to? (besides the presents of course) Want to invite me to your beach house to ride out the rest of the winter? Thanks so much!