Birthday Parties

We probably won't have parties every year. Every few years if they want one will be fine and for the special birthdays definitely. I think it's very cool for families to all be together for birthdays though, so on birthdays where there is no party we will do family dinners with cake and presents. Perhaps we will have a big roast, cook childs favourite dinner, go out to dinner or get takeaways or something to that effect.

We are debating whether to even have a party for Jude this year. Unfortunately, his birthday is during calving and we, my parents and sister are all dairy farmers! Stressful time of year and if something happens on their farms my sister and parents wouldn't be able to make it. Would have to time it too so that my other brother and sister were home from uni.... Other friends and family live a bit further away (we are new to the area) so would take them a bit of travelling to get here. But hopefully we can organise a lunch or something like that and if people can't make it then oh well - I'm sure Jude will still have lots of fun with us

We will do parties each year starting from 1. Even though our parents didn't have alot of money, we always had some sort of party - either somewhere like McDonalds or at our place with some friends, so it feels natural for us to do something similar. The parties for DS will be the same or at places like Butterfly Creek or the Zoo once he is older.   

The 5th & 21st birthdays were bigger than the other ages for DH & I and it will be the same for our kids.

for the 1st and 2nd birthdays we just did family - my parents, DH's parents, brother, SIL and their 2 boys and his grandmother.

Just lunch at home and a cake.

For Amy's 3rd & 4th we have had a party with a few of her creche/kindy friends. Both times we have had it at a local playgroup. It was $35 to hire it for 4 hours and you get to use all the toys and the kitchen etc. The only thing you have to do is clean up after which only took about 20 minutes.

We will do the same for Sophie for her 3rd too.

We had big family/friends gatherings for both first brithdays (OK WILL for Ava - she's not 1 yet!), but that was more for us to say 'yay we made it!'. 2nd bday was smaller, just family but that's still 20-odd people.

We did something when we were growing up where you were allowed as many friends as the age you were turning... 5 for your 5th, 10 for your 10th, but I think the less important ages we just had an afternoon tea with 2 or 3 friends, and then dinner with grandparents.

I'm not a believer in over-the-top parties - something that can be done on a budget and that actually acknowledges the people that make the child's life important, rather than who can throw the flashiest party with the best loot bags. My kids will probably hate me, but I know I'm doing them a favour by living life in perspective

1.... 5..... and 21 are the big ones for us to celebrate

Although I want to have a birthday party for Isla every year, it's by no means going to be flashy and OTT!! Just a few of her friends over (as well as family who are in CHCH (so 2 of her aunties, 2 of her uncles, 2 of her cousins and her Granny & Grandad - my Mum and Dad). The rest of her family are in Ireland (DF's side). It doesn't need to be expensive, cause geez, no way we could afford a big flashy party with pony rides and bouncy castles etc! lol I just think it would be fun to get her to help plan it and come up with games and do the decorating and baking ourselves.

Thanks ladies for sharing much appreciated

We are coming up to our second birthday and are pretty sure we will do a family thing each year (my side of the family is big so just with all my siblings and Mum and Dad its a pretty big affair) just have been thinking about it lately and wondered what others do.

We had a first for both Issy and Elias ... (well actually Issy had three for her 1st)!

I think from about the age of 2 they understand parties a little more and both our kids will have parties each year .. I mean its only one day a year where the day is all about them .. I think I can handle that.

I'm already thinking about Issy's third birthday ... (since hers is the next to come round).

Our girls will most likely have parties each year. Their firsts were quite big, 2nd, 3rd and 4th were more just family and close friends. The 5th is going to be a big one and I am assuming after 5th she'll already be planning her 6th and 7th... I just don't know if I will put in as much effort every single year.

we do a party for the "mile stone " years, 1, 5, 10, 13, 16 , ....18 , 21 they can organise their own haha

although , when she turned 6 there was a lot of kids from her first year of school that she wanted to invite, so we ended up having a party for that year too