Justin's sleep

out birthday in

our back yard

was a favorite with all our kids.

It began with pizza on the patio, and included time using the telescope from the grandparents. 

We reuse the same pretty pastel gift boxes (R) year after year instead of always buying new wrapping paper.  We keep the boxes & matching tablecloth put away for special occasions. 

Feel free to get your kids things they want that also double as home school needs, when the two coincide.  Here Jennaya

receives a gift of colored pencils in 50 colors.  Being able to choose exact color tones means a lot to

Special baking (R) makes a birthday special, and it doesn't have to be a cake.  Donuts are nice, or you can bake a pie, brownies, muffins, anything nice. 

Once in a while there is a very special trip that one family member wants badly, and you spend the cost knowing it will be a precious memory for the whole family and

educational experience.  Judah's special trip recently was to the Living Desert zoo and botanical garden.  He loves desert wildlife, so this was a wonderful treat for him. 

Some people think that over $100 is not enough to spend on a child's birthday.  Others think it wastes God's time and money to give each child a memorable day. 

Our view is that it is vital to celebrate each person in the family every year to show them they are wanted, cherished, and loved.  You can do this in any way you choose.  But it is important to celebrate one another.  This demonstrates the value God places on every single person.  And it uplifts and encourages us through life's hard times.

Celebrating each child makes him feel like he

Belongs, and balances out  the correction that is needed to help the child turn out right (i.e., caring and responsible).

Celebrating one another  bonds us together from our hearts in ways that a mere duty can never do.  If celebration seems like a waste of time or money to you, you may miss out on the tremendous family bonds that celebration brings even years down the road through memories.

It is a true saying that the family that works together, prays together, and plays together will stay together.  Part of that bond is our strong moral obligation to love one another as ourselves.  Fewer feelings are hurt, and fewer members are alienated.  Another side of that bond comes from experiencing joy together in one another's company.  Celebration is a healing balm in a family.  It's a bond that will truly last if love is present. 

Another thing we did for birthdays was to make cards for the birthday person to make them feel special.  Click here to see a small sample of the cards we have made as a family.

In tight years, we made the presents seem like more by having a treasure hunt.  The kids looked for clues which led to more clues until at last the treasure is found.  Sometimes additional presents were found along the way with the new clues (see below). 

I used berry baskets woven with pretty color paper strips to make this party basket (above).. 

Oryx at The Living Desert