A photo journal comprised of my thoughts on motherhood and other life happenings, as well as some of professional work as a photographer. Southern California is home.
Every year, when our birthdays roll around, Willy and I discuss not what we want but what we would like to do. Sure there’s been years when we’ve exchanged little things here and there, but we tend to value experiences over anything else. Call me a lazy mother, but for Van’s second birthday I didn’t send out invitations, pick a theme, or stop at the store to pick out decorations. It always seems silly to me because my boys are still young and I’m pretty sure a simple cupcake is enough to put a smile on their face. So with a weekend spent with family and friends and numerous trips to the beach, we celebrated Van’s second year of life. And it was a blast.
Congrats to T.h.Ransom for winning the giveaway to UB2. An email has been sent to you. Also, there is still time to enter the giveaway to Sugarboo Designs.
2 Responses
I’m all about birthday experiences vs gifts. This was a great one.
totally agree about giving experiences rather than gifts! my husband and i were just discussing last night how we should approach asking our friends and family to spend time with our son rather than buy him anything for his birthday and christmas (he’s a christmas baby, December 20th). especially because we live 5 hours away from everyone and time spent together and the memories made will last much longer than his excitement over a new toy. i look around my house and see all the waste of money on toys he got last year that he was interested in for about for 5 minutes.
i’m not big on the themed parties either. seems like a whole lot more work than i would want to take on! last year i invited a couple friends to an indoor bounce house and asked that they not bring gifts, their presence was gift enough. i even paid for the other kids. one mom brought him a balloon and the other an ornament and they both brought him a singing card. i think he likes those best. the cupcakes were the highlight of the day i’m pretty sure!
i’m sure Van loved his day and being together will all the people who are most important more than anything any one could have bought him. looks like you had lots of fun. looks like you guys always have lots of fun, and that is all that matters to kids 🙂
I’m all about birthday experiences vs gifts. This was a great one.
totally agree about giving experiences rather than gifts! my husband and i were just discussing last night how we should approach asking our friends and family to spend time with our son rather than buy him anything for his birthday and christmas (he’s a christmas baby, December 20th). especially because we live 5 hours away from everyone and time spent together and the memories made will last much longer than his excitement over a new toy. i look around my house and see all the waste of money on toys he got last year that he was interested in for about for 5 minutes.
i’m not big on the themed parties either. seems like a whole lot more work than i would want to take on! last year i invited a couple friends to an indoor bounce house and asked that they not bring gifts, their presence was gift enough. i even paid for the other kids. one mom brought him a balloon and the other an ornament and they both brought him a singing card. i think he likes those best. the cupcakes were the highlight of the day i’m pretty sure!
i’m sure Van loved his day and being together will all the people who are most important more than anything any one could have bought him. looks like you had lots of fun. looks like you guys always have lots of fun, and that is all that matters to kids 🙂