May 18, 2014

A Less is More Birthday Party, Roscoe turns 5

Roscoe turns five tomorrow and we’ve been in our usual week-long celebration mode, which I absolutely love. I adore my birthday boys and I think they know it. 

On Friday it was ice cream sundaes in the backyard with our former neighbors because our oldest kids have birthdays within a week of each other.

Tomorrow it will be a drive north to our old suburb for a visit to the Lego store and a meet up with all the grandparents for birthday dinner.

As much as I've enjoyed throwing parties with all the fixings, my energy for it has waned over the years. We knew the Lego store would be a highlight for Roscoe and I wanted to end the main festivities there but he felt strongly that he also wanted to share some time with his friends, so we planned an easy play date on Saturday to celebrate. He invited two of his buddies from preschool—they share their own little language and are so content to just hang out at the Lego table building things for hours. Their siblings and parents came too.

No fancy venue, just the preschool playground that the kids have grown to love.


No invites, just the informal relay of information to parents in passing. 


No decorations, just a motif print tablecloth that we use at home and our regular dishware. 


No coordinating food tables, just a last-minute menu chosen by Roscoe as we meandered through the aisles at the grocery store.



No organized games, just a bunch of dress up clothes laid out on benches and a big towel with a pile of Roscoe’s Lego bricks dumped in the middle.












No cake, just mango Popsicles.







Less really did feel like more and I loved the way his party came together this year.

The afternoon embodied all of Roscoe's favorite things in a practically effortless way.

I think I'm on to something.








7 comments:

  1. That is the perfect birthday celebration- I took my 5 year old, his brother, and 7 of his friends bowling for his birthday party and it was chaos. This looks so much better!!

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    1. That sounds like a fun party, and I know what you mean! Brave mama :) I bet your little guy loved it even though it was a lot of work!

      I have enjoyed throwing both kinds of parties, but this year this kind was just right.

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  2. Love this. Especially the "no cake just popsicles" - each of Jane's 3 years I have stressed over the cake, putting way too much time and money into something that's so unhealthy. I'm sort of attached to the idea of blowing out candles though, maybe next year I'll just do muffins!

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    1. Have you considered a birthday ring? You can see ours in a few of the pictures, it's sitting on the table. I started them on their first birthdays (they each have one) and we add to it each year. We buy from the wooden wagon online. It's something we can take out during their birthday week or month and light (and blow out!) a lot.

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  3. Looks like the birthday boy loved it, and that's all that matters!

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    1. Oh mama tully, I totally agree! You always throw the most gorgeous and thoughtfully orchestrated parties for your littles. Your joy for the planning and your creativity in pulling it all together really shines through. TALENT! :)

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  4. I hadn't seen this yet! It was a great party and the photos are beautiful. Especially Blanche ;)

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