Tayler's Birthday Happenings. About Singling My Kids Out On Their Day. And I Survived This Semester.

It's finals week.  As in, final group project for English is due on Monday.  As in final for biology is on Monday.

As in homework and studying up to my eyeballs until then.

As in feeling a bit stressed and under pressure and therefore a bit emotional.

As in, we're going out for dinner on Monday to celebrate the end of this semester because the last four months have felt heavy and, hallelujah, it's over.  Though the thought that I've made it through, and so far am pulling solid A's, makes me feel accomplished and proud of it.

I bought The Man the original Star Wars movies on blu-ray to compensate for him having to live with me right now.

He felt that was good compensation, he's been wanting those on blu-ray for quite awhile now.

Tayler's birthday was on Sunday, the big 1-0.

 I have a list of birthday parties.  I did my homework and figured out what variations of parties could be had for the same budget.  The bigger the activity, the fewer friends, the simpler the activity, more friends.  As in family only at Boondocks all the way down to 10 friends at a party at home.  This way they can see up front what they can have and I know whatever they pick will be in budget, and everyone is getting the same amount of a deal out of it, regardless of what they pick off the list.

One thing I put on the list was above budget though.

Take a trip to St. George to visit Grandpa Dick and Grandma KC.  I figured a family trip to Grandma and Grandpa's house for your birthday was one thing that would be okay if it was more than the rest of the party options.

This was the option that Tayler picked for her birthday.

So we loaded up for the weekend and drove south to 90 degree weather for some bowling and dinner at Olive Garden.  And of course we slipped in snow cones and watching Grandpa sing with Uncle Mike.

 Casidee was renamed:

 

Free dessert at Olive Garden, because, you know, with the soda during bowling, the snow cones, and the cake and ice cream waiting at Grandpa and Grandma's house, there wasn't enough sugar involved in the day's festivities.

One blue, vanilla cake with zebra candles coming right up.

She got her beloved moccasins.  And her dreamed of rollerblades.
This necklace from Blue Eyed Beads.

 

On Monday I took her on her one on one, birthday lunch date where she got to choose where to have lunch (Cafe Rio, waddup), and then as the tradition dictates, we swung by the store where she chose a birthday treat (M&M cookies) to take back to her class.

I feel very strongly about making them feel singled out on their birthday. I don't want them to feel lost in the numbers of our family, and I know I'm not very good at doing individual time with them every single day,  but I hope as we're interacting as a family that my kids know that they are a part of something special.  And they are a huge piece of that.  They matter.

On their birthdays I try very hard to reiterate that to them.