Personalized Gifts

I know it’s graduation month but since we’ll be celebrating my son’s 3rd birthday this weekend I have birthdays on my mind.  It’s actually a sad little story but we were going to have a birthday for Connor with his friends this Saturday and I sent out the evite invitations and do you know not one family could make it!  I’m sure I am more bummed about it than little Connor.  Of course his day will be super special and I did decide to host a playdate during the day at the park with the moms group I’m a member of so Connor will get plently of friends and cupcakes and juice boxes to have a grand ole time.  Since he was born on actual Memorial day 3 yrs ago that holiday holds an extra special place in my heart and we are taking him to the beach where he’ll see one set of grandparents and cousins and we’ll be celebrating AGAIN with cake and icecream I’m sure.  Not sure why I feel so bummed out about the house birthday party since after typing all that it seems like he’s getting a pretty good deal!!

You know I think us as parents and maybe it’s just us mommas but I think we get more wrapped up the perfect birthday for our kids and when it doesn’t turn out just the way we want we tend to get a little upset.  (okay, maybe it’s just me..LOL)  So what happens when you just can’t get a party together and have no other options?  What do you do?  My husband made a very good point and said well since he’s just turning 3 he’ll be happy with a cake and a juice box and taking him somewhere to ride small kid’s rides and play games.  (no, not Chuckee Cheese…not on your life!!)

This is what we’ve decided to do:  Now normally I make my kids whatever character cake they want but when I’m pregnant my feet and hands tend to swell quickly and hurt so I decided it’s just not worth the back pain so they’ll have to go with store bought this year.  Anyway, today I took Connor to the store and let him pick out the cake he wanted (a cake that was already made so we could take it home), let him pick out the icecream he wanted and his other favorite snack which is chips and dip.  (Dean’s Dip is the best!!) We already have the juice boxes, plates and other goodies.  Oh, and I let him pick out a balloon.  Now the only problem with this is that he wants it today and we’re not celebrating until tomorrow, cruel I know.  Tomorrow after he’s had his nap we’ll have a little family party, take him to the store and let him pick out a small birthday gift from his brother (we’re giving him a bubble mower), then we are going to take him somewhere that has small kid’s rides and a game room and let him and his brother have a blast while I take picture after picture!  It was funny while we were at the store today it has a small game room in it and Connor knows we are taking him to one and he asked to go in there today which is something he usually doesn’t ask since he knows what the answer will be.  Sorry, when I go grocery shopping I’m only there for one thing…groceries!   

Sometimes as parents we have to let go what we want and think about what will truly make our kids happy and certainly for his age I think this will make him the happiest 3 yr old on earth!! 

Keeping it Unique,

Kristal