About two weeks ago Anna turned six, but we were all too exhausted to even sing a proper rendition of “Happy Birthday.” Tom was busy running a 2:55 marathon, and I was exhausted because I had to wake up at 5:30 a.m. to get him to the start line. TWO HOURS AND FIFTY-FIVE MINUTES! You read that right. Absolutely incredible.
Also, I woke up at 5:30 A!M! to drive him to the start line. A hero and an athlete, I know.
But poor sweet Anna didn’t ask for an incredible marathon performance for her birthday. (She also didn’t ask for a mediocre performance last year when she turned five.)
She asked for a party.
Anna’s actually never had a birthday party. The fourth baby didn’t get the same first or second birthday celebrations as her siblings, then her third and fourth birthdays were swallowed up by COVID. Her last birthday fell with the marathon and the flu, but this year I had no excuse.
As parties go, we went low-key. We were blessed with a beautiful fall day that was perfect for a backyard party. We invited bus stop friends and a few kids from Anna’s kindergarten class to celebrate with games, pizza, and cupcakes.
The best part, the part that you could never quantify, was that Mary and one of her friends ran the whole party. They came up with and party schedule and games and even greeted kids at they arrived. They put together a Pokemon card find, kitty tag, and a game of musical kittens. It was exactly as incredible as it sounds.
No one, and I mean no one, plans a party with the enthusiasm and creativity of a fifth grade girl.
During free play time Mary put together a playlist of all of Anna’s favorite songs. They included Party in the U.S.A., Shake It Off, Gerinomo, and Anna’s very favorite — anything by Queen.
When “We Will Rock You” came on, David jumped up, because he happens to be learning “We Will Rock You” and “Another One Bites the Dust” in his 6th grade band class.
He ran inside, grabbed his trombone to play along with the song.
I’ve been to a lot of birthday parties, but this is the first with live music.
The experience of the youngest in a family is a lot different than the experience of the oldest — and that’s something I think about a lot. I don’t feel guilty in the way I used to because I know it’s just unavoidable, but I still think about it.
There was a time when it seemed like my older kids got the best of me and Anna got the raw end of the deal. Now I know it’s just different. The oldest got full attention, the youngest got a steady, confident hand. The oldest got brand new everything, but he also got kicked out of the baby role as son as another sibling was on the way (whether they were ready or not), while no one will ever push Anna from her spot on my hip.
The balance sheets are definitely different, but whether or not they’re equal is a different thing entirely.
Sure, David had paper invitations for his first birthday, and Mary got a giant homemade purple duck cake for her second birthday, Anna got a trombone performance from her big brother and an entire party planned by her big sister.
I don’t know, it kind of seems like that puts it in the running for best party ever.
Happiest birthday sweet Anna, we love you so.
