Celebrate Green Blog

By Lynn

We just finished up a birthday party for our newly 8-year-old grandson. On his actual birthday, he enjoyed a party with his friends, but we always like to do something with the family. Our parties are simple, cost almost nothing, but emphasize fun. Today’s was no exception. In fact, our four grandkids (two of them are four and a half and the other two, eight), declared it “one of the best parties ever!”

We played about six games. Almost all had us laughing, if not breathless. Below are pix from just a couple.

Clothes pin tag. We pinned clothes pins on everyone’s backs. Object of the game is to remove as many clothes pins from others as you can by chasing after them.

The chase is on!

Cotton ball contest. Another hilarious game involved blindfolding two people, giving each a bowl filled with cotton balls, then having them try to put spoonfuls of cotton balls onto the plate above their heads. This is much harder than you’d think and we were all (except the ones playing) laughing hysterically!

We started the party at 2:30, so there was no meal involved, but we had to have some eats, so I opted for s’mores which had been a huge hit last summer when we’d spent a week together at a resort. Even though it was threatening to rain, my husband built a fire in the firepit and the kids gathered around. Making and eating s’mores certainly was a party highlight. (No birthday cake, but we sang “Happy Birthday” to Evan during the ice cream course. He didn’t miss the cake.)

The only thing I purchased for the party was organic pop corn, Paul Newman organic chocolate bars, organic graham crackers, ice cream, and some wonderful little tangerines that the children love.

Every year for our grandchildren’s birthdays, we give them a book and make a donation in their name to a cause. When they were very small, we chose the organization to receive the donation. Once they turned five, we started presenting them with three choices and encouraging them to think about which they want us to donate to. We don’t wrap the book, but hide it and play “Hot and Cold,” until they discover it. They still all seem to enjoy the hunt, although I think Evan was teasing us this year as we all yelled, “HOT, HOT, HOT” while he lingered in front of the stove, but refused to open it, eyeing us innocently. When he finally, slowly and dramatically, opened the door and removed the book, we all clapped.

The causes we choose mirror their interests. This year, Evan’s choices were: a reptile preservation group (he has a live snake and is fascinated by them); Room to Read (he’s a voracious reader); and www.BallForAll.org which gives African children the opportunity to learn and play soccer (which Evan loves). Stay tuned to learn which one he chose.