Birthday Traditions

BIRTHDAY TRADITIONS

Birthdays in the Harris household are fun, loud, and very important. With 7 kids, birthdays are a big deal. The other kids plan for months what they are going to pool their money to get for the birthday kid and this time KIDS. Yes, I had 2 children 5 years apart on the same day of the year.

Oh, take note that Hunter is wearing a yellow shirt farm hat in the photo below.

The Birthday Kids having fun! Notice that Hunter has only opened his "farm" hat.
The Birthday Kids having fun! Notice that Hunter has only opened his “farm” hat.

I think one of my favorite things about birthdays in our household is watching the kids as they decide what to buy the birthday boy or girl OR BOTH in this case!

Groovy Man! She loved these sunglasses.
Groovy Man! She loved these sunglasses.

When the gift finally arrives (usually by UPS), you should see the kids running to the truck taking special care that the gift is hidden. The kids then take it to a private place to “open it” so that they can wrap it!)

We really never started the habit of birthday parties on the actual birthday. Most parents are frenzied the entire week preceding the child’s birthday planning shopping, etc. and the day of the birthday, they just want to crawl into bed. I wanted to enjoy the day with the birthday child. Scott and I both felt the same way.

She seems pretty excited to be getting something to help with this blog!! Her first monopod!! Wouldn't that excite you?
She seems pretty excited to be getting something to help with this blog!! Her first monopod!! Wouldn’t that excite you?

I remember having birthday parties for the first few kids, but as we continued to have more I hated to keep asking people to come – people feel they have to buy gifts even if you tell them not to. If people want to drop by, that is always o.k. and we usually have plenty of cake and ice cream, it is just not a huge production. The birthday lass the entire week this way because people drop by when they can. The kids love it.

This carrot cake is scrumptious! Recipe coming soon. This was Hunter's choice for his birthday.
This carrot cake is scrumptious! Recipe coming soon. This was Hunter’s choice for his birthday.

We always let the birthday girl or boy choose the meal and the cake, pie, or dessert that they want. They can either help with the preparation or not – most choose to help because they get individual attention in the kitchen with Scott and I. Scott is a fantastic cake decorator. I don’t think I have ever decorated a cake since we have been married.

Hunter's Birthday Meal consists of fried deer meat, a loaded salad, garlic mashed potatoes, English peas (he used to call them circle peas when he was 2), and fresh bread. Yummy!!
Hunter’s Birthday Meal consists of fried deer meat, a loaded salad, garlic mashed potatoes, English peas (he used to call them circle peas when he was 2), and fresh bread. Yummy!!

 

Graylyn's Birthday Meal consisted of fresh purple hull peas (like black-eyed peas), braised wild turkey, Thanksgiving dressing, and green bean casserole.
Graylyn’s Birthday Meal consisted of fresh purple hull peas (like black-eyed peas), braised wild turkey, Thanksgiving dressing, and green bean casserole.

I just love tradition. Every family develops their own whether they try to or not. Tradition is a good thing, especially for people like me who enjoy things being busy but at the same time like consistency. I like knowing what to expect.

Our usual routine for birthdays is to begin that morning with a fantastic breakfast, open presents, hike in the country or play in the yard, come in and begin cooking for supper – a superior supper! Oh, somewhere in the morning activities we make the cake or dessert. We had double this birthday so Hunter celebrated on the actual birthday and Graylyn celebrated the day after. We usually have plenty of left-overs so I can take a day off of cooking the next day or so!

Honey Mascarpone Cheesecake!! Recipe coming soon.
Honey Mascarpone Cheesecake!! Recipe coming soon.

I asked you to take note of Hunter in the first photo. He had just received his hat. O.K. watch the progression of different clothes. He didn’t know I was taking pictures. Every time he opened a new present, he put it on. It was hilarious. Here goes the progression.

Hunter gets another style hat. He takes the farm hat off and puts that on. That makes sense. Hunter looks at the pants and I think, "Surely he isn't going to put these on…"

Now, he gets a pair of pants and I think, “Surely he isn’t going to put those on…”

Hunter added yet another shirt and if you look closely a hat is under the farm hat.
Hunter added yet another shirt and if you look closely a hat is under the farm hat.

He does put the pants on and gets another shirt. Yes! He puts that on too and adds back his farm hat on top of the baseball cap!

Hunter is adding the pants to the party!
Hunter is adding the pants to the party!

 

What fun. Observation…especially of my kids…is the highlight of my life. I love to laugh and they give me this awesome gift of laughter!

Well, I will end it here with this awesome expression of my daughter.

Hmmm. I wonder what she is thinking! You caption!
Hmmm. I wonder what she is thinking! You caption!

If any of you have any funny or just interesting birthday stories, please tell me in the comments! I love reading about real life. If any of you have birthdays coming up, Happy Birthday!

 

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3 Comments

  1. My sister and I started an unofficial tradition among my siblings and our spouses a couple of years ago. Instead of giving each other gifts, we will instead hand make a crazy, obnoxious cake for the birthday guy or gal. We’ll all talk about it and will nominate 1 couple to actually make it. Each cake is completely different and weird: we’ve made tie-dye cake, 3-foot long donut cake, My Little Pony cake, a cake decorated with candies like a football stadium, cheeseburger cake, and more…. Sometimes they don’t end up being as tasty as we think (none of us are terribly handy with baking) but it doesn’t even matter. Giving an obnoxious cake is more personal, more fun, and less costly than buying gifts all the time, and I can definitely say we look forward to putting together a hilarious cake every birthday season 🙂

    1. Stacy Harris says:

      I LOVE that tradition! Fun wins every time. I think that things like that a build great relationships. I would always look forward to every birthday in the family…wondering what the next creative cake was going to be. I also love that no one is expecting perfection! So many times, even with my own life, I expect perfection of myself and it takes away the joy of just doing and living. Thanks so much for sharing this with me. I may like to start this tradition with my family and hopefully all of my kids with theirs!

  2. Thank you for sharing your traditions! It encouraged me so much! Ours are very similar with the birthday person choosing their meal and dessert.

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