How do you celebrate your children's birthday parties?

I spend months planning my kids birthday parties. I just had a second boy 18 months ago and his birthday is 6 days away from my first son so for now they will have combined parties. I really get into the theme, the food and the party favors. I hand make everything and plan it all. I had an interesting awareness after my first son's birthday about being dissapointed that the party wasn't all that I had hoped and then I went into a full fledged illness for 1 month. Then someone said to me, your birth wasn't all that you hoped and each birthday you will feel the same way unless you get over it. It was great to have that pointed out to me and although i have been happier at the turnout for all the other parties, I think I still put so much effort into it becuase I am trying to make it all better than the birth. I also think it is the one time per year that you should make your kids feel that it really is their day and all about them. of course, I love them the rest of the year and make them feel special, but on that one day, it is just them!!! Last years birthday was number 5 for first kid and numner 1 for second. i had the party at home and the theme was Leaves. (an october party)...I had a waffle bar with maple syrup served in leaf bottles, and all the toppings in leaf plates. WE had a huge leaf pile in the backyard, which I must say was hard to collect in Los Angeles and we played in the pile all day as well kid things for hunting. Then each person went home with a tree house that I made out of branches planted in pots with swings and hammocks and leave---it was very cool. It would be used with dollhouse people or animals. I am already starting to think about next years party---we are thinking about a bird theme and decorating wood bird houses---not so sure about eating bird food heheheh

Yeah they eagerly wait for their birthdays. I have two children. On the day of their birthdays all cousins gettogether at home or at a restuarent. we organise these parties as most discreet as possible. We want to surprise them. They love these surprise parties. Since they are quite small, we get them lots of presents, so that they are occupied for sometime on their own with the gifts taht they get.

Well, Happy Birthday to Angelee! Mydaughter's birthday parties so far have been at our home. Her birthday is April 30th, which falls right in the middle of rainy season here. For her first birthday I reserved the park, but it poured raining on the day of her party. For her second birthday, I didn't even bother, I just had it at the house. For her 3rd birthday, I plan to take her to Bonkers, its a place like Chuck E Cheese.

My sister in law once hired a clown for her daughters one year old birthday. The clown scared the crap out of her. Not of good experience for her.