Simplify...sometimes less really is more!

Those of you who know me well know that I have a serious problem when it comes to birthday parties. I can't stop. I just keep going and going until it has gone WAY over the top. On the day Hadley turned 2, Stewart shipped out to Iraq. Her birthday went almost completely unnoticed that year. I think my mom made a cupcake and we took a picture of her blowing out the candle. We did nothing else. The following year, when she turned 3, her dad was almost home and we thought we'd wait and have a party when he got here. He got home and it was chaotic and the party never happened.

I must have decided to compensate for those 2 failed birthdays when she turned four. We had a cowgirl party and invited about 25 kids over. It was complete insanity. You know it's out of control when there are ponies in your yard, right? The next year, the princess party was equally crazy. The 24 children running around dressed as princesses, princes, and knights were great but I think it took me and my house a week to recover. Last year's luau about drove me to an early grave. The hula lessons were fun but did I really need to make hot dogs that looked like octopuses for 23 children? They were nestled on a bed of shell-shaped pasta with goldfish crackers. So cute.....so cute that the kids were scared of the octopus and I don't think anyone ate them.

So this year I decided to simplify. When Hadley suggested we go to Build-a-Bear for her birthday, I was thrilled. She was only allowed to invite 5 friends, we didn't do treat bags, pinatas, decorations.... We just went to the mall, built our bears, came home for pizza, cake and ice cream. Really great. I was finished cleaning up within 30 minutes of the last guest's departure. There was only one bag of garbage from the party, she didn't get 25 new toys (we have way too many as it is!), I only had a slight headache by the time it was over and it really was fun. My thanks to Karyn for an adorable cake. The kids were mesmerized. Well done, Karyn!

Now I'm asking myself if this is what happens to people who have 3 kids. Do you just stop putting as much effort into things? I hope not. I hope I am still as excited about Maddox's 4th birthday as I was about Hadley's. But it was nice to take a step back this year. Hadley declared it to be the best day of her life....ever! I'd call that a success.