Water Balloons

Infants and toddlers are usually oblivious about their birthdays, but then as they become preschoolers they start to eagerly anticipate their next birthday. Older children usually don't talk about it as incessantly as the younger ones do. Oliver is in that stage where he has already been talking about his birthday for months. Last year I remember feeling like his birthday was a failure because he had been looking forward to it for so long and then we were sick with the stomach flu and such while my sister's family was here on his birthday. I had forgotten to get him the traditional birthday shirt (got him one after the fact), and the weather didn't cooperate for his pool party. I have always struggled to come up with ideas for what to get Oliver for his birthday and Christmas because he's the third child and the second boy and because he as of yet doesn't have something he's really "into" like the other two did when they were his age (princesses, Legos, etc.). I always get him a big box of goldfish crackers and some peanut butter cups, but that doesn't seem like its enough for his sixth birthday. Last year I had a good idea for him (for once!) of the spinning seesaw that his grandparents got for him. I haven't had any inspiration yet this year, and his birthday is less than a month away. I did order three birthday t-shirts today (one for each child). Nadia wore the same one the last two years, but I think it will be too small next year. I also ordered Ian another pair of sandals since he left his pair in the hotel in Baltimore the end of May. The only thing I have on my "gift shelf" that I could give to Oliver are three Mandisa cd's I got from the bookstore's clearance rack in May. He does love to listen to music!

I know Oliver wants a Yoda birthday cake. I will ask Aunt Millie and Uncle Al to help us with that. I got  him some Star Wars plates, napkins, etc. at Target for less than $5 total. He has been talking about having water balloons at his party; I got a bag of water balloons at a dollar store. He has invited everyone and their brother to his party including random people we ran into in California, New York, New Jersey, etc. I haven't actually invited anyone yet in part because I'm embarrassed to host a party at our house given we have a partially removed deck and only one half of a door in front of the washer and dryer in the kitchen (party guests wouldn't see the master bathroom so I'm not concerned about the fact the floor is still partially ripped out in that room). The other reason is that Ian hasn't had any friends at a birthday party yet, and he's about to turn nine. I should have invited friends to his birthday last year because Nadia began inviting a couple of friends starting with her eighth birthday party. Would it be fair to invite friends to Oliver's 6th birthday party if Nadia didn't do so until she was eight, and Ian hasn't yet had that experience? Throwing parties is not my forte in life. I did throw Paul two surprise parties over the past 17 years of our marriage, but that's about it. I've never given a baby shower or a bridal shower or anything like that. Nadia's first two birthday parties were easy because I had them at the swimming pool, but we aren't members of a pool this year. Considering his birthday is on August 7 I had better start making some party plans and figure out what to buy him for his gift!

When we were at a birthday party for a five year old the end of July, I was rather overwhelmed. It was a pool party at the boy's grandparent's house, but there were MANY people there. When I was growing up none of my birthday parties were anywhere near that large. Thankfully my kids seem satisfied with the small celebrations we've had thus far. I hope they never expect a party as big as that one was! Ian (my introvert) would never ask for a party that big. Although Nadia is an extrovert, Oliver takes the cake in that category. He wants to strike a conversation up with everyone he passes by no matter where we are. He doesn't have a shy bone in his body! If everyone he invited to his water balloon birthday party actually came, it would be a gigantic party! Of course given most of the people he invited don't even know our names or where we live, I am not worried, ha ha! I love the fact that Oliver doesn't have the "gimmes" (Ian could take a lesson), but I can't believe he's almost six years old and I still have no idea what to get him for his birthday. With Nadia and Ian it's a case of trying to pick between a variety of ideas. Today Nadia asked me how expensive seasons 5 and 6 of the Brinkman Adventures would be. This means I succeeded with her birthday gift this year as I got her seasons 1-4 for her birthday (stories on CD). Yay!