Tell me about your multiple birthday party(ies)

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I have been wondering the same thing. Their first bday will be here in 2 months

Where on earth did the time go?

my guys will be one in a few months ( : )
we're planning on probably having my parents, maybe my brother, and our married friends who have two kids. My dad's b-day, mine, and the boys all fall within a few days of each other so it will be fun to all be together, even if it will all be focused on the boys. Probably the most exciting thing we'll do is eat cake

Now, my MIL wants to throw them a belated b-day party when we go visit them for Thanksgiving... that will be another story entirely if it happens... she comes from a huge Italian family who like to make a big deal out of things... I'm nervous about that one. I'm not a big fan of overdone kids parties that are overflowing with presents and seem to be more about the adults than the kids, especially when it isn't age appropriate.

I didn't know there were so many of us with our babies turning one so close together! We'll have to update each other on how our celebrations turn out.

My guys share a party. We do home parties, though, so they get to choose the theme, and they don't have to agree on one. (For example, this year it was the Diego Dinosaur Adventure, because one wanted Diego and one wanted dinosaurs.) When we've done big cakes, they've each gotten their own, but to be honest at this age range we normally do cupcakes instead, it's easier and less messy, and they all get decorated in theme and the boys get their individual candles.

We did a very small 1st birthday with just us and a few family members. I wasn't inclined to do much for birthday #2, but my DD was hellbent on throwing a party (she'd just gotten really into celebrations) so we did (I picked one theme for that one though). Last year and these year they've chosen their own themes and helped with the setup. My kids are all very into 'adventure' parties though, so it's like a big collaboration.

I figure this will change eventually, and they may even want their own parties as they get older, we'll just play it by ear.

when a friend of ours turned one I made her a really neat set from a butterick pattern. It was a bag in the shape of a barn and ten little barnyard animals stuffed and w/ button eyes and felt details. She really liked it. For my guys my mom and MIL are collaborating to make each of the boys their own barn set. I'm not sure butterick still makes the pattern and my mom currently has possession of it so I can't tell you the number or even offer to send a copy... It was fun to give her something that I had made that still was at least as cool as all the store bought presents

And also, on the original topic, we've changed our minds and decided to do a small group outing to the zoo for their b-day and get a year membership as their present. Then we'll have a little picnic afterwards.

We think we'll have to celebrate on a weekend near their b-day, but I would feel weird not marking the actual day of their birth in some way... what do you all do about this dillemma?

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What we do for all our kids is to have a party on the weekend and then on their actual bday, we have a special dinner (kids' pick) and give the child just one present and a cake (like homemade). This is something we do just btwn us (no guest are invited or anything). It's just a way to mark the occassion, kwim?

First birthday we had family and a few of our friends over for brunch (was about 14 people including us), then had an open house with cake/drinks only for a few hours where TONS of people (40 in all I think) were invited. The reason we did this is that almost no one had seen our girls in person b/c they were born at 32 weeks on St. Patrick's day and by the time we got them home and felt we could have visitors, it was flu/RSV season again. Though it was technically still flu/RSV season for their birthday, we went ahead and had a big party. Just asked (nicely) that people not come if they were feeling sick at all. 2 smash cakes, one big sheet cake for the open house.

For their 2nd birthday we just had family and my best friends and their partners. About 14 people total....but I don't think they were all here at once. We did cupcakes...which the girls LOVED! Did mini cupcakes for them specifically (that they got to have all week for dessert).

We'll probably just have about 6 kids over for their 3rd birthday (3 friends each). They'll get to have a small celebration at preschool too. It feels like it will be the first year THEY really get the whole birthday thing. Will probably do cupcakes again...it's so easy and nothing to cut! And you can get WAY creative with them!

4th birthday hopefully we will be traveling....so just us.

After that, I'm with my sister on this.....only substantial parties every few years. When I was younger, I got to take one or 2 special friends to something big (like a Harlem Globetrotters game or the circus or one year I took my best friend to the beach with us) as a birthday treat.

As far as cakes go, when the girls are old enough to choose, I'll ask them what they want...1, 2 or cupcakes. Given that I make awesome, fancy cupcakes, I bet they'll choose the cupcakes for a while.

Oh...and for their 21st birthday, my hubby intends to take them somewhere for a green beer. Yes, they were born on St. Patty's day.

kat

My brother and I were born 11 and 1/2 months apart, so our birthdays fall exactly 1 week apart in January. We ALWAYS had to have a joint party, but we got separate cakes. We hated this after about age 6 or 7. Our family parties were always on our birthday, and we got to choose a special dinner.

For our DD we had a HUGE summer themed BBQ bash for her 1st b-day, at my parents house. It was great fun, and an awesome way to mark our first year as parents. The next year was just immediate family and godparents. Last year I was PG with the twins so we used the Children's museum and let her invite everyone she could think of. We provided the cake and the museum did the rest. It was cheaper than buying all of the party supplies and food we would have needed to have a party at our house, and I didn't have to do anything at all. This year will be at home again, and only 8 kids (because we always include siblings).

The boys birthday is coming up in October, and I think we are going to have a vaguely harvest theme to the party. We are planning to invite close family and friends, but that could be a HUGE number of people. DH's b-day is 3 days before the boys, so we will celebrate hi on the same day. I think we are going to do one cake. I saw ZADEE'S cake for Jand F today, and it was GORGEOUS! I think I will use the same bakery.

we are a simple living family therefore, we like to make things rather than buy them whenever we can. we also really dislike what birthday parties have turned into over the years. did you know that it's not all that uncommon to invite the entire class to a birthday party? i once saw a birthday party for a 5 year old at the zoo i used to work at. she and her other 5 year old friends arrived at the zoo in 3 separate stretch limos!!! i wondered how her parents would top that one for her 6th birthday.

my sil has 3 parties for her two kids. one each where they invite the entire class and a third which is for just the extended family. do you know how many gifts that is coming into the house~almost like christmas.

our twins will turn 2 next month. this is what we're planning:

~i handmade the invitations w/ photos of my twins and dried flowers that they picked and pressed
~no store-bought theme here for us~they're painting their own party hats and table cloth
~we're doing a good old fashioned backyard bbq
~i'm making two separate healthy cakes
~we'll sing 2 versions of the happy birthday song

a few weeks ago, i sent emails to all who were invited about what is and isn't appropriate (in our house) as far as gifts go~no plastic please, no barbies, no war toys. we prefer wood and/or open ended toys. i gave them links for magic cabin, steiner books and a few others.

i'm making my daughter a waldorf doll and my husband is making a toy out of wood for our son.

looking forward to our special celebration!
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