Ethan Turns 6

Every Birthday party we have ever had for Ethan has been a big ordeal. His first Birthday was combined with John's surprise 30th birthday (Which I am sure many of you remember). Then every other one was out here in Colorado. When you live in a community like the one we live in... you don't just invite a few people. It is usually all or none since we all live next to each other, not to mention that we all work together, eat together, go to church together, live together and basically breathe together. There is no privacy in your home life except maybe in the bathroom and bedrooms.... MAYBE. All of that to say... when you have a party, you invite everyone. For some reason I hit a slump in my motivation to cook lately and cooking for 30 to 35 people sounded like torture. I also knew John's birthday followed 5 days later.

So I started thinking about my childhood and what made my birthdays so special. I know I never once had a party like Ethan's last 4 parties but what made it fun was the surprise. I always knew who was coming and when it was going to be. I also got to pick out my meal and type of cake. However... the surprise was when my dad or someone would keep me busy for the afternoon and then return me to a house covered in streamers and balloons. THAT WAS IT!!! No party favors, no matching plates, no themes and rarely a party hat. So what was so great about it? Yes there was my favorite food, my favorite cake and gifts but all the rest didn't matter. I was with my family! As I pondered these things and how spoiled my son was when it came to birthdays, I began planning his sixth birthday party.

I wanted surprise, I wanted small and I definitely wanted family. I always had my parents, siblings, grandparents and 1 or 2 friends. But Ethan's party was going to be devoid of siblings and grandparents, and Camp Staff have always been our surrogate family, so now I was facing a dilemma. We ended up having a destination party and we invited one family to go with us. The whole day was a surprise to Ethan. First we drove 2 hours to a children's museum and let the kids play for a couple hours. Then we went to an awesome park with their razor scooters and ordered Pizza Hut pizza and a Cold Stone Creamery cake. It was so great! I haven't been so relaxed at a birthday party in so many years! I didn't have to cook and I didn't have to clean. The only thing Ethan says he would have changed is that he wished he hadn't lost his watch at Arby's. And in the end we ended up with family, surprise and small. What a blessing!

His Soccer Cake

Blue Tounges

Ethan and His good buddy Claire

Ethan's first and very own pocket knife from Dad