"Good Morning Sunshine"

I stand corrected, taught and then given specific instructions on how to wake Sohaila up in the morning.  I had no specific way, I would rub her back trying to bring her out of her deep slumber, but I guess it was not good enough because I have been asked to change my ways. Sohaila has given me instructions on how she would like to wake up... including the words I need to say.  And so today, as my baby girl woke as a 6 year old I spoke these words..."Good morning Sunshine."

We started a new tradition on Seanna's last birthday  called the birthday string. Carlos gets on a mission and loops and ties this ribbon all through out the house. At different places we have little gifts wrapped up for her. It such a fun way to start a birthday and something we can keep doing for years!  By 6:30am we had baked 24 cupcakes for her class, made pancakes, did the birthday string and sang Sohaila happy birthday.

Good Morning Sunshine
 

 

What are your family birthday traditions?

Comments

[Renee Garcia]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOHAILA!!! Being 6 is "totally awesome". I know because Kameron told me so! :o) Sounds like you're having a great day already!

[Renee Garcia]

By the way, Heather, you still have your comments set in the California time zone! :)

[ruthanne]

my family has a race to see who can call first to with the birthday person a happy day. love the pancakes - very cool!

[Kelly @ Love Well]

I love the birthday string. I might have to steal it (in an Internet, agape-love kind of way) for the next birthday in our house.

Our biggest tradition right now is to let the birthday person pick the meal for that night. But I've been itching for something more -- especially something to do in the mornings.

Happy birthday to your beautiful girl. My daughter is "six and a half" (as she tells everyone). It's a sweet, fun age.

[DanaeDanae]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOHILA!!!!!!!

[Tabitha]

Our birthday traditions - I wake them up with a "Happy Birthday" and gently sing to them. I also them stories about when they were younger.

I try to have their birthday party on their actual birthday but that doesn't always happen. The birthday parties are pretty low-key. They pick out what kind of cake they want and so far they have been easy. Chocolate cake with orange frosting or confetti cake with blue frosting. I am willing to make an elaborate cake but they don't want it.

Also, since their birthdays are so close to Christmas we down play the gifts at Christmas and get their big gifts for their birthday.

Basically, I try to make them feel special on their birthday. After all, it their day!

[Scarlett Czarnecki]

Happy Birthday Sweet Sohaila! xoxo from Riverside!

[Gretchen]

We always celebrate the half-birthdays too! (When you are five-and-a half, or seven-and-a-half, those six months add considerably to the amount of time you have been alive)! We have half a birthday cake with the correct number of candles (just push the half one in a bit farther than the others) and sing "Happy Half Birthday to You!" No gifts, just cake and a song!

[Dana]

Yeah...the phenix were smart coming up with such a a cool "birthday string" tradition. I am totally doing that with my kids too.

[whittakerwoman]

I love the half birthday thing to cute! H

[Robin]

I talked to Daley last night when he came in...in the dark. He thought ya'll had booby-trapped the place. Ha.
Happy birthday Sohaila!!!! :-)
I miss your family.

[Kendra]

What an awesome way to celebrate a birthday... Great Job!

[Pearmama]

I bought a string of lights that say Happy Birthday on them. So while the birthday boy or girl is asleep the night before, I put them up in their room so they can wake up to the lights. I also decorate one of our bar stools with string and streamers and all that good stuff to designate a special *birthday chair*. I am fortunate enough to live close to all my family, so whatever day of the week a birthday lands on, the grands and aunts, uncles and cousins come over for fried chicken, pizza (whatever is easy on a weeknight) and cake. They really feel special when everyone comes over to celebrate. Oh, I almost forgot. About two years ago, we came up with "birthday date night". Since we have a large family, this is my favorite thing to do. Whatever we choose to do, it's really special because we are by ourselves and I get to spend that one on one with them. Movies, for a walk, dinner, ice cream, hot cocoa at starbucks, shopping, the bookstore, etc.

Loved the pancakes, btw. All that before 6:30 am. You're nuts. :)

[Kerry @ Colored With Memories]

I'm loving the birthday string and pancake ideas...since apparently I don't have any good traditions, guess I'll be stealing those!

Thanks for sharing...oh, and how'd you do those pancakes, CHEF!

[Judith Thomas]

My dad would always (without fail) bring cupcakes for my class in the middle of the day. Believe me, she will always remember and cherish how special you make her birthday (especially the cupcake part) :)

[Zack]

I'm totally stealing all these ideas for when I have kids running around!