We celebrated Oliver’s 6th birthday this Saturday with his school chums and Granddad and Groovy visiting from Michigan.
Typically we throw a big to-do with all our friends and their families and end up hosting upwards of 60 guests in celebration of our son’s life. This has been a fun tradition to keep, but this year (as Oliver is a bit older and starting to really want to think for himself), the birthday boy decided on a fall-themed party with his kindergarten buddies.
Planning a party with Oliver is awesome for me because it involves an awesome series of dates. On the first date, we pick up decorations and such at Target. (He also took this date as an opportunity to “register” for gifts he wished to receive. This involved me taking pictures of him holding lots of Lego Star Wars sets in front of his “hopeful eyes”. He was very into this gift registry – which never actually found itself on any mailing lists).
Another date was for pumpkins – because what fall party is complete with out lots and lots of pumpkins?
And the final date involved a trip to the Harris Teeter bakery where he outlined for the baker and me just exactly how he wanted his fall cake to look and taste.
Honestly, the dates leading up to the party are more wonderful to me than the party itself!
Of course, the party was pretty special too. Lots of people that love Oliver very much. His annual bouquet of balloons from Grandma with just the colors he requested (which somehow managed to blow away into oblivion not five minutes after they arrived – goodbye, $12!!).
And every year we celebrate Oliver’s birth with at least 2-3 rounds of a donut-eating contest. We look forward to it every year. And I must say, Ryan and I are getting pretty quick and tricky about beating all the 6-year-olds!
This year we added a piñata to the festivities, per Oliver’s request.
Of course, not until the party was underway did I realize that every activity (lunch, donut-eating, piñata, cake) involved eating – and mostly sugar. Everyone was pretty stuffed and happy by the time parents came to pick them up!
We also celebrated Oliver’s birthday just the four of us (Oliver, Hazel, Ryan and me) last week, but that’s a story for another time. Happy birthday, you great big six-year-old!
May you continue to grow “in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)
Everything looks so beautiful! I love the little pumpkins and the cake. It’s just tragic to watch birthday balloons blow away, or at least to watch $12 blow away. Honk. I like that you and Ziz coordinated shirts: clearly a farmsy day. Love love love!
oh how I loved that age!!! the dates were my fave too. The Boy is 13 1/2 now and he still like going on dates with me … so keep it up, mama, he’s still gonna want to go out with his Best Girl! :)
Oh, man, school friends? He is too old, please just squash his head into the ground and make him stop it.
The donuts are a brilliant idea, btw.
Wow. Taking that contest to a whole new jaw opening level. Apologies. Yay for matching!
How fun! We haven’t done a “friend” birthday part around our house for ages…and I don’t miss it…but I love to look at how other people celebrate :) We always do some kind of extended family dinner though.
That’s it. I’m adding a donut-eating contest to my birthday this year. Who cares if I’ll be 35? A donut per year, baby.
Um the pictures of the donut eating contest are hilarious. Looks like a great time! :)
Adorable birthday! The donut eating contest is a wonderful idea- so much fun!!!
The donut eating contest is FAB. Can we come next year?? ;)
I clicked on this post thinking, well I’m sure Oliver can rock some pretty pink balloons, then I realized that the post title must be a typo!
Oh goodness – you’re so right! Well, I stuck in a different word all together. How embarrassing!
Love it!! Just how birthdays are meant to be celebrated, in my humble opinion. :)
This summer I had a day of feeling frustrated about over themed & propped & posed parties… and shared my thoughts: http://ourfunwithfive.blogspot.com/2012/08/some-thoughts-on-kids-birthday-parties.html
Oliver’s party looks like prime 6-year-old celebrating fun!!
And I love those great donut eating shots!