Regular Birthdays

We have a birthday this week in our home.  You fun, creative people are probably going to be appalled by the rest of this post.  As much as I want my kids to feel extra special on their special day, I think I fail miserably every year.  This is just one of those ways that my regularness comes out full force.  Why can't I be creative and fun just a few weeks out of the year????  But no, my practical and slightly lazy side just takes over.

Here's what birthdays look like in our home.  Every other year, the kids can have a "kid" party.  On the opposite years it's just a family party or doing something fun as a family.  The kid parties are simply cake and ice cream, presents and playing.  I have boys, all they really want to do is play with their friends.  I gave up on games and activities long ago when they kept asking if they "could just play".  Sure, go right ahead.  The morning of the birthday I try to have the "Happy Birthday" banner hung up.  It's about 8 years old, ratty and falling apart, but it's a tradition.  I make a yummy breakfast the birthday boy will like.  Dinner is birthday boy's choice, made at home of course.  Then they open the family presents.  That's it.  Woohoo.  And so, I need ideas people!  Not the plan ahead, spend hours making things kind of ideas, either.  Just easy, spur of the moment ideas to help me make my kids feel special on their special day...