Clearly, Erik and I weren’t thinking very clearly(except for the all-consuming desire “Let’s get married-NOW!”) when we planned our wedding just days before both our birthdays. But in our defense we simply couldn’t have anticipated that four of our children would also decide to make their earthly debut in mid-winter. Which now gives us 6 birthdays and our anniversary between Jan 15th and Feb 14th. Stefan’s day comes along a whole 26 days later on March 12 and Hans, of course, has his own season in November.
January/February birthdays are hard. You’ve just received the credit card bills from Christmas and most people are just partied out. Everyone else is working on their diet and we’re making a birthday cake every 3 days.
But I went to a party just days before Christmas that renewed my birthday spirit. Holiday birthdays are the most neglected of all and yet Kit and Kevin took the time to create a wondrous, magical party for Ryn. The little girls were absolutely entranced and it reminded me of the value of putting a little extra effort into our celebrations.
So now I am in full throttle planning a Jedi Training party for Gabriel on Friday and a Pinkalicious party for Miss Mary the very next day. Kids only want these cute theme parties for a few years and then it’s bowling and swimming and then simply hanging out in the basement(there is of course, the infamous year when I planned a swimming party for Gabriel– took one look at his 4 year old friends and retreated to the bowling alley).
Now, Ryn’s party pictures below are meant to inspire and enthrall you– no guilt or comparing allowed. Rumor has it this party entailed 5 adults staying up until 4 in the morning to put it together. I didn’t explain it earlier, but Kit and Kevin are back in Utah because the basketball team he played for in France went under. He’s now decided to leave the glamorous life of “playing” for a living(though France never did pay like the NBA) and joining the 9-5ers. What do you think? Maybe a future in party planning?
baby fairy snuck away during castle decorating
presents
don’t forget to take a balloon home with you!
the merriest
umm, i would wager an arguement that you are more fertile at one time of the year……
and i’m sad you have lost me as a monthly obligation. 🙁 i liked our visits very very much.
jennie w.
Will you please move in with me and photograph my life? If there’s anyone who could make it look beautiful, it’s you.
martha corinna
Oh my goodness! So beautiful!
So many ideas to glean from this for my 3 girls.
Tracy
I think I want my Christmas bday party just like that next year. Just lovely!
Denise
Ryn’s party looks so cute.
I learned an important lesson about birthday parties after we moved from PA to NY. My mom is so great about so much — but when it came to birthdays, she was not at all good. So, I didn’t know the right approach (for my family) to birthdays. But, I quickly learned.
The birthday party that’s best is the one that’s all about that kid. Birthday parties, I decided, are not a format for showcasing my cake making prowess (or lack?), my ability to decorate, or any other part of me.
One of our most successful parties (really moms still tell me that it was one of their child’s all time favorites) was a dog themed party where one of the favorite activities involved a scavenger hunt in the yard that the kids had to do “as dogs” barking and sniffing for treasure.
Honestly, birthday parties can be so great. I’m just a big believer in simplify, simplify, simplify — and don’t lose sight of the intended audience. Their expectations are generally lower than our own and quite often they are happy with the easiest, little things.
Heather
I love how they are all in white. So pretty.
Alyson (New England Living)
That is the cutest party ever! So fairy tale. It is just so enchanting.
You guys did not plan very well with timing, did you? 😉 Thankfully, we don’t have any b-days around the holiday because if we did, I think I’d go insane. You are obviously a much calmer person.
Though our anniversary is in December and I keep telling people not to get married in December. Horrible month for an anniversary!
Natalie
Michelle, I’ve only *heard* about you, well, heard isn’t really the right word, you’ve been raved about by Kit and Kev. Thanks for taking all of these cute pictures so that we could all see the party of the century…that we missed!! 🙂
(p.s. I’m married to Kit’s brother Matt.)