Speaking of birthdays...
I was thinking about some of the things we do at our house to make birthdays special. Some of the things have been passed down through the years and others are things we have started with our own family. Here are some of the birthday things we do for each child and I was wondering if you would share some of your own family's birthday traditions too...
* Buttering the birthday girl (or boy's) nose. This started with my Great-Grandfather. He hated the tradition of birthday spankings so instead he would butter his kid's noses. It is always a contest to see who will be the first one to remember and get the honor of buttering the birthday girl or boy's nose! When I was younger I thought everyone did this! Funny!
* Dates with Dad. This is probably THE highlight of each child's birthday. They get to go on a special date with Daddy sometime during the week of their birthday. Usually out to eat and then an activity of the child's choice (walks in the park, movies, trying on shoes at the mall--Maya!, etc.) They look forward to this special time with Dad all year through.
* Birthday meals. Each child gets to plan the menu for the whole day of their birthday. Today we had crepes with blueberries for breakfast, spaghetti and green beans for lunch, and baked potatoes for dinner with brownies for dessert.
* Usually we do the song singing, nose-buttering, candle blowing-out and gift giving first thing in the morning at breakfast. The birthday child gets the place of honor at the table and we have the table decorated (flowers for the girls, balloons for Benjamin) and all the party plates, napkins, hats, whatever, so that when they come in to the dining room first thing in the morning they know "IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!" That way we can enjoy the birthday stuff for a whole day instead of just a couple hours. This year Sarah decided to open a gift after each meal instead of all of them at once... such self-control! The other kids and I have usually made some cards, posters, etc. so the room looks really festive!
* A time of special prayers and exhortation for the birthday child. Just a time, usually at a meal, when each member of the family can say something they love about the birthday child and be thankful for him or her.
Anyway, just a little insight into birthday time at our house. I would love it if you would share with me any little traditions or ideas you have done or even thought of doing with your own family....I just love birthdays!
* Buttering the birthday girl (or boy's) nose. This started with my Great-Grandfather. He hated the tradition of birthday spankings so instead he would butter his kid's noses. It is always a contest to see who will be the first one to remember and get the honor of buttering the birthday girl or boy's nose! When I was younger I thought everyone did this! Funny!
* Dates with Dad. This is probably THE highlight of each child's birthday. They get to go on a special date with Daddy sometime during the week of their birthday. Usually out to eat and then an activity of the child's choice (walks in the park, movies, trying on shoes at the mall--Maya!, etc.) They look forward to this special time with Dad all year through.
* Birthday meals. Each child gets to plan the menu for the whole day of their birthday. Today we had crepes with blueberries for breakfast, spaghetti and green beans for lunch, and baked potatoes for dinner with brownies for dessert.
* Usually we do the song singing, nose-buttering, candle blowing-out and gift giving first thing in the morning at breakfast. The birthday child gets the place of honor at the table and we have the table decorated (flowers for the girls, balloons for Benjamin) and all the party plates, napkins, hats, whatever, so that when they come in to the dining room first thing in the morning they know "IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!" That way we can enjoy the birthday stuff for a whole day instead of just a couple hours. This year Sarah decided to open a gift after each meal instead of all of them at once... such self-control! The other kids and I have usually made some cards, posters, etc. so the room looks really festive!
* A time of special prayers and exhortation for the birthday child. Just a time, usually at a meal, when each member of the family can say something they love about the birthday child and be thankful for him or her.
Anyway, just a little insight into birthday time at our house. I would love it if you would share with me any little traditions or ideas you have done or even thought of doing with your own family....I just love birthdays!
Labels: family, traditions
posted by As For Me and My House | 2:43 PM
2 Comments:
I love these ideas! I also want to start the birthday kid meal planning...Charis and Arden will have to either work together or else take separate days, since they share a birthday. We have a special plate that says "It's Your Special Day" (a MOPS craft we made a few years ago), so the birthday kid gets that for their meals. I like the meal time sharing idea, too. We have usually done home birthday parties, but as our family grows...we may do what my friend does and have one big party a year and just do family activities for actual birthdays.
In case you didn't see it on my blog, I'm pregnant again. :-)
Great ideas sis. We may "borrow" them. Danielle had also read about making each child a special flag and flying it in the yard when that child had a big accomplishment.... birthdays, report cards, graduation and such. It is awesome to give that child the whole day.
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