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Keep it Simple, Make it Meaningful: The Birthday Edition

In February, I wrote about my new holiday motto: Keep it Simple, Make it Meaningful.  Now, I have another chance to apply it.

Isaac will be 1 at the end of the month.  Can you believe it? 

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To celebrate, we are planning a small party for his grandparents, great grandparents and aunts and uncles.  That’s only 19 people.

(That breaks tradition from what we’ve done for Adam’s birthdays.  We’ve always invited the whole family, and had 40-60 guests.  Phew.  Makes me tired just thinking about it.)

This year, with Isaac’s first birthday, we’re setting a new precedent.  Smaller.  Simpler.  Less.

But, it will still be meaningful. 
He will get a smash cake, and maybe wear the party hat that his big brother wore on his 1st birthday.
And I plan to make a video montage of his first year of life (better get busy!) just like I did for Adam.  Watching Adam’s video still brings tears to my eyes.  How’s that for meaningful?

What other things do you do to celebrate birthdays in a meaningful way?

Would you like to comment?

  1. That's great! I'm sure it'll be a nice day and you'll still have plenty of mementos for Isaac's scrapbook. All three boys were born in May which means ONE birthday party, usually when their CA Grandma comes to town. Simplicity=sanity!

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  2. Wow, I cannot actually believe he's almost one! When we were kids we always got to choose where we went for our birthday dinners. We do that with the boys, too, although Mr. Man doesn't seem to care much. He's happy with a McDonald's that has a play area. I always save an invitation to their parties. Someday I'll do something with them, although I haven't yet.

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  3. This is exactly what we did for Jack's fourth birthday (and we only had 6 guests!) and all of my kids said it was the best birthday party ever. We decorated with balloons and a Happy Birthday Jack sign that Henry made, and I made spaghetti and meatballs. That. is. it. It was perfect.

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