Birthday | VIVIAN KIRKFIELD – Writer for Children

I don’t usually post on Saturday…except when there is something special…which there is today!!

Susanna Leonard Hill is holding one of her FAMOUS picture book contests…the topic this time is a unique or unusual birthday celebration. Please click on her link and visit…I know there will be lots of great entries!

Birthdays mean CAKE!

Birthdays mean opening presents!

Birthdays mean fun and games and balloons and friends!

In No Brother for My Birthday, a young girl doesn’t want her little brother to be at her birthday party because he is noisy and always in the way. She finds a very ingenious way to dispose of him…but, almost as soon as he is gone, she begins to miss him. Read on to find out what happens. I hope you enjoy it!

No Brother for My Birthday

I’ve a brother, he’s a bother…told my mother and my father.

To my birthday he’s not coming. He’s too noisy, keeps on drumming.

He can travel to Aunt Lizzy and to Uncle Elmo Frizzy.

So on Monday I got busy…worked so hard my head got dizzy.

Packed my brother in a big box…gave him cookies and his pet rocks.

Closed the edges, taped them tightly…glued the label, not so lightly.

Tuesday came and I felt sickly…to the mailbox I walked quickly.

Slid the package down the drop slot…goodbye noisy drumming marplot.

All day Wednesday, peace and quiet…no more noisy drumming riot.

Thursday dawns and I’ve decided…solitaire is too one-sided.

Friday night I’m sad and gloomy. This big house is just too roomy.

One more day until my birthday…Saturday is NOT a mirth day.

Sunday noontime, guests arriving. House is hopping, party’s thriving.

Friends are happy, eating, drinking. I am sad, I can’t stop thinking.

Then I hear the doorbell ringing…mailman stands there, what’s he bringing?

There’s a big box, taped up tightly…with a label, glued not lightly.

Stamped in red I find a clue…return to sender, postage due!

Hear a rhythm, sounds like thrumming. Could it be my brother drumming?

Rip the tape off, lift the corner…up pops brother like Jack Horner!

He’s the best gift of the lot, my noisy brother – drumming marplot.

I had a lot of fun writing this story…although my husband is now questioning my morals because I’ve created a little girl who packs her brother in a box and mails him away. Seriously though, I think kids will get a kick out of it…and will identify with the frustrations of the older sister who has to “put up with” her noisy drumming marplot of a brother, but then misses him so much she cannot enjoy her birthday party. Oh yes, and I had to get out the dictionary to prove that “marplot” was a real word!

I can’t wait to see all of the entries in this contest!

Thrifty Birthday Party Planning Tips (familyfocusblog.com)

“Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday dear………”

Do you remember the birthday parties you had when you were a child?

I do, even though it was a long, long time ago. 🙂

My mom would bake a cake and invite a few of my friends over. We would play games like Pin the Tail on the Donkey and Musical Chairs. Then I would open the presents and thank each child for the gift, saving all of the ribbon and wrapping paper for future arts and crafts projects. Then we children would sit down and my mom would bring in the cake with candles lit while everyone sang Happy Birthday. When the party was over, I would hand each child a little bag with a few small items: balloon, whistle, box of cracker-jack.

Parties these days are often very different. Many children go to preschool or other childcare facilities where they have a dozen friends or more. Add to that neighbor children and family members and you can wind up with a list of two dozen children that need to be invited. In addition, in many families, both parents are working outside the home and having such a big party at home is more than they can cope with.

A whole new industry has emerged: facilities that cater to parties for two, three and four year olds. There are bounce house and other indoor playground-type facilities, in addition to museums, zoos and farms that will put together a program of activities including food and time for opening presents…all supervised by their employees.

Earlier this month, I visited my daughter and her family in New Hampshire and helped celebrate my grandson’s third birthday at BounceU in Bedford, NH. The children had a ball! Parents could participate with their children if they wanted to…climbing and sliding and bouncing. The pizza they served was pretty good and the birthday cake was delicious. One of the employees even sat close, writing down who the gift was from and what it was, while presents were being unwrapped.

I know my grandson had a wonderful time and was thrilled to have all of his friends wishing him a happy birthday. All of the children were delighted with the activities and their parents were pleased with the BounceU facility.

The big birthday party was celebrated on a Sunday, but my grandson’s actual birthday fell on the next day. His dad had to work, but came home early so that we could all spend the afternoon at a beautiful nearby park.

Jeremy got to try out the birthday present he had received from his Grampy, a new fishing rod!

And when we got home, Jeremy got to open presents from his mom and dad…and blow out the candles on a small birthday cake that was just perfect for the four of us.

I was happy that Jeremy got to experience these two different birthday celebrations. Although the larger party was certainly lots of fun, there were elements in the smaller one that made it so very special and harkened back to those parties of long ago.

What are your thoughts?

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