Splash: Billy Turns Three

By The Red Tent, February 8, 2017

There are two helium balloons wedged into our lounge room ceiling, stranded there for three days now with no signs of coming down — a big gold number “3” and a sea creature themed “Happy Birthday!” which perfectly sums up the celebration we had. Our boy turned three on Saturday and we all headed under the sea to celebrate, because if there is one thing Billy loves, it’s whales, and if there was one birthday theme to be had this year, it was Underwater.

Kid’s parties are my idea of heaven. Giggling little faces, silly parties games, little friendships, and the magic of celebrating something special — they all take me away from the problems of the world and anchor me to good. I love thinking about the details and the food and the surprises, but mostly I love it when the kids arrive and it all begins to unravel.

This year we played pin the tail on the whale, a definite party favourite.

And we had a little craft station for making your own Underwater World.

The kids went on a treasure hunt to find their buried treasure (bucket and spade party favours).

And my favourite part – the Happy Birthday song.

For one day of the year, being surrounded by those who love you and being celebrated? Doesn’t get much better than that.

Except of course, a birthday trip to Sea World where our boy LOST HIS MIND and then lost it even further when we found out it was actually way cheaper to stay overnight at the resort and get a 2 day Sea World pass than it was to go for just the day — so we decided on a whim to check into the resort overnight without a spare change of clothes or a single toothbrush. Ella got to skip school which lead to further mind losing and honestly, it is a trip I’ll remember forever. We had a ball.

One day soon, whale parties will be replaced by high school graduations and gap year airport send-offs, and with every year around our dining table singing Happy Birthday, I watch as my children grow more into who they are, what they love, who they’ll be. Though it comes with a price, I recognise fully what a gift it is to be in the middle of all of this childhood and I’m so grateful for the life it gives me.

Happy Birthday, Billy.

I love you so much.