It is VERY funny that I would be writing on this topic this week as we are about to begin Birthday Season around here. During the months of April, May, and June, 5 of our kids have birthdays. Two extended family members also celebrate birthdays. Then Easter, Mother’s, and Father’s Day are thrown in the mix as well. Phew! It is a hectic time for us made even wilder with a constant sugar OVERLOAD! Let’s talk about how we go about planning, handling, and celebrating Birthdays and Christmas in our Big Family.
Celebrating Birthdays
In our house the Spring is known as Birthday Season. In April we usually have Easter, then Olivia’s and Wyatt’s Birthdays in a two-week period. As we roll into May we celebrate Anderson’s Birthday, Mother’s Day followed by a Grandparent’s and Luc’s Birthdays in a two-week period. We get a breather at the beginning of June then Father’s Day is here with Asher’s Birthday coming in a few days later. I plan one Birthday to turn round and plan another then the cycle repeats itself again. I feel pretty scattered during this time so planning ahead is key to make sure nothing falls through the cracks. While I am always adjusting year to year to help things go smoother here is how we prepare for a Birthday.
Planning Birthdays
With each Birthday we start by setting a $100 budget for the Birthday Girl or Boy. This amount includes everything from presents and decorations to food and a cake or whatever dessert the child picks. Now keep in mind we aren’t throwing a huge Birthday Bash for a dozen kids, plus family and friends. Usually, Birthday Parties include our family and Grandparents, so they are very low key. About 6 weeks out I let the Birthday kid stay up after the others are in bed and help me plan their Birthday. They pick the theme. What food they would like to eat for the day. The cake or dessert they want. Sometimes a kid prefers another fun dessert such as Brownie Sundaes, Macarons, etc. over a cake so we do that instead. Cake after cake after cake can get old quick! Lastly the Birthday kid lets me know some gifts they would like. We also look some items up online for them to check out or to show me specifically what they had in mind.
Executing a Birthday Plan
Once Birthday plans have been made then it is on me to execute those plans over the next few weeks. First, we divide up the Gift List. One for Sam and myself, another for Sam’s Parents, and lastly for my Parents. This way we don’t have to worry about duplicate gifts. I will text the list with links for specific gifts to Grandparents so they can begin their shopping.
I like to take a few days to brainstorm and research party decoration ideas around the theme a child has picked. Sometimes in the past I have made it easy and ordered party decorations packs from Amazon, but sometimes I like to get creative and come up with decorations myself. This also helps stretch that Birthday Budget farther if I do things myself. Other times out of necessity I have to come up with decorations myself… anyone else have a kid ask for a Platypus themed Birthday???
Once I have a plan for decorations then I order the supplies and gifts needed. I usually like to have this done at least three weeks out, but sometimes the days get away from me and I am not as planned out. Like this year, a week out from Olivia’s party I FINALLY have everything I need, except the Moana plates I ordered from Walmart. I am crossing my fingers they get delivered on time by the Post Office!
Let’s Party!
To make things extra special, Sam and I will decorate the night before a kid’s Birthday. We hang up streamers, banners, balloons or whatever other decorations we have. Put out the tablecloth, then place the unopened plates, napkins and wrapped presents out on the table. It is always fun to see the kids’ reactions when they come out of their rooms in the morning. We also get Donuts for breakfast before Sam heads of to work the morning of a Birthday.
If time allows, then we try to plan a Birthday Date at some point during the month. This may look like Sam and myself taking the Birthday kid to a store of their choosing so they can spend some Birthday money extended family sent. Then we go out to eat at a restaurant they enjoy. Other years it has been one parent taking a child out if we didn’t have a sitter. Other times we have had to plan a Birthday Date at home after siblings are in bed if we had a new baby.
Celebrating Christmas
During the holidays Sam’s coworkers often comment on how much fun we must have as a big family at Christmas and the truth is we have a BLAST! Things are more laid back and simple than people may imagine, and our tree is never overflowing with gifts, but you will find a few things for everyone under there. Ways to Make the Holidays More Relaxed with Kids is a post I wrote this past Christmas on ways we prevent the holiday celebrations from becoming too hectic.
Set an Overall Budget
Before the holidays even hit Sam and I set a budget around $1000 for the Holidays. This includes funds for Holiday Fun and Food. Things like seasonal Mondo Llama Crafts. A local Christmas Lights Show, etc. Maybe a Target Favorite Day Holiday Snacks. Pillsbury Seasonal Cookie Dough or the Little Debbie Christmas Gingerbread Soft Cookies. We budget about $100 a child for gifts. I say “about” because depending on the age of our kids at Christmastime we may not spend the full amount. This past Christmas Micah was only one month old, so we got him a box of diapers and a board book since he doesn’t know the difference. For the older kids we ask them for gift ideas of something they may want. An article of clothing to wear. A book or magazine to read. Or something they may need.
This past Christmas Olivia received some Calico Critter characters. PJs for her doll. Silly Groot socks. The newest Adventures of Sophie Mouse book as well as a Focus on the Family Clubhouse Magazine subscription for the coming year. Cat stickers. Unicorn Coloring Book, Candy, and a few other small things. This was just from Sam and myself. Now Santa usually gets us a family gift like a Membership to the local Zoo. A Wagon filled with fun snacks and juice boxes for the kids we don’t have on a regular basis. A large box of Contruction Duplo’s to name a few examples.
For Extended Family and Friends, we purchase the same gift for everyone. This looks like some Candy, a Holiday Picture or Craft from the kids. Then a Gift Card out to eat or maybe for coffee and dessert, etc. Grandparents get more personal gifts maybe something they have asked for along with something the kids have made. We also make a Christmas Calendar of pictures we have taken of the kids over the year and send that to all the Grandparents and Great Grandparents. This is ALWAYS a crowd pleaser!
The Kids Help with Planning
At the beginning of November, we sit down with the kids to plan a Holiday Bucket List. They usually want to check out Christmas Lights. Watch some fun Holidays Movies paired with a Special Snack. Read from our every growing Christmas Book collection. Write a letter to Santa. Create Holidays Crafts… we love the seasonal Mondo Llama Craft Kits from Target.
Another day we will plan to make some Gift Wish Lists. The kids will look through the Toy Magazines that Amazon, Target, and Walmart put out during the holidays. From there they make a few lists to pass out to the Grandparents similar to what we do at their Birthday. For the younger kids, Sam and I will sit down to talk with them and help write out their lists. I also keep a running list of interests the kids have, or things they have mentioned they would like over the year and remind them of these during our chats to see if they want to add those items to their wish list as well.
We will also draw names for Secret Siblings. For this each child draws a name, then goes shopping with either Sam or myself to buy their person a gift with their own money. We open these gifts during our school Christmas Party. It is so fun to see what everyone picks out for their Secret Sibling. When the kids were younger, we played Silly Santa and Sam and I picked out a few funny things like a Bag of Simply Cheetos, a Christmas Baby Rattle, Holiday Board Book, Playdoh, etc. for the kids to open during our school Christmas Party.
Time Off from School
We do take two weeks off from school during December. Rather than doing schoolwork we fill that time with a Bucket List Item. One day we may bake and decorate Christmas Cookies. The next watch a Holiday Movie and enjoy a fun snack. Another day do a Mondo Llama Craft Kit. Prepare Cookie Jars for Family and Friends. Help wraps gifts for their Secret Sibling or Extended Family. Check out Christmas Lights. Visit Santa. Have a Family Sleepover in the Livingroom, etc.
Spread Out Christmas Cheer
We are blessed to get so many gifts from Family and Friends. Over the years we have learned to spread out opening these gifts to make the season more fun, last longer and limit the overwhelm. The kids open gifts from their Secret Sibling during our school Christmas Party. On Christmas Eve we visit with Grandparents, enjoy some good food, and pass out gifts. Then on Christmas Day the kids get to see what Santa brought them, if they were nice 🙂 Along with presents from Sam and myself. On December 26th we enjoy a second Christmas and open packages from another set of Grandparents. Then as the days trickle by we continue to open gifts from Aunts, Uncles, and Friends. Christmas is a three plus week event around our house, and we love it!
What does your family do to celebrate Birthdays and Christmas?
Please share with us in the comments. Be sure to check out other Big Family Logistics topics you may have missed.
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