Kissing and Happy Seizures

I admit that it would be nice if our boys' birthdays were spread out a bit more.  It's hard work planning three birthdays in the month of October, and it forces me to be a little more creative because by the 2nd (not to mention third) birthday, I can't just pull out the standard party routine, the same old boxed up decorations and usual cake recipe, without someone feeling slighted.  The past two years, we planned one big party to celebrate everyone's birthday together, with the idea that it would lessen the pressure if we only had to go through the party planning, decorating, cooking, and inviting once.  What we found, though, is that we still felt compelled to do a small celebration on each person's actual birthday.  So, rather than cutting back on the party planning work, it actually just meant I was planning four events in the month of October instead of three.

This year, I decided to embrace the KISS philosophy. I figured I would just keep it simple, sunshine (yes, I changed the last word, what of it?) and try to think more of what each person would most enjoy doing on their big day and less what I thought a party should include. Lincoln loves balloons and had a great time at a play group once where they filled a room with balloons and let the kids dive in.  Simple, easy, and exactly what Lincoln would love. 

After chowing down on a huge burger, Linc tore into his presents.  He has always been quite good at unwrapping things.

And yet, he had lots of help this time around.

He loved his new backpack, doll and stroller.

And then the chaos began.  Sam had dutifully blown up (and hid) almost 100 balloons.  Now he ran upstairs and began tossing balloons down on the boys two at a time.  By the end, the living room looked something like this.

I should probably mention that this was incredibly hard to photograph because both boys were diving into piles of balloons, sending clouds of them flying wildly.  Sam and I were running around the edges of the room throwing and kicking balloons back into the center of the living room, only to have the boys dive or roll into them again.  Linc was so happy, he would scream, laugh, throw a balloon, throw himself into a barrell roll into a cluster of balloons, then arch his back in a kind of gleeful seizure and start from the beginning.  As you can see, the balloon party was quite a hit.

Before long, we were all exhausted and ready for cake.  Blow out those candles, boys! Now, let's eat!