Seven Candles... times three!

For SO many reasons, we decided not to do birthday parties this year. First of all, Allen was supposed to be working nights all month for turn-around; by the time we knew of the change of plans and that he wasn't going to be doing T/A, we already had our plan (or lack thereof) in place. Secondly, October was supposed to be the month I took everything off my list that might cause stress. Thirdly, we already have so much going on. Fourthly, fifthly, sixthly, whatever... we plan to do something different with the kids to celebrate all four birthdays with our family.

We still wanted to celebrate birthdays somehow, so we let the kids each pick a restaurant for dinner. Of course, no one chose the same restaurant, so Mama ended up with the treat of not cooking for most of the week. We had a candle for Ben, Maddie, and Jon in each of their requested treats so that, over the four days, they each blew out seven candles -- one for each of their seven years!

Our menu for the weekend had twenty-one candles:
On the Border nachos were what Jon wanted for dinner.

Ben and Maddie both wanted Marble Slab for birthday dessert, and Jon was in favor of that instead of birthday cake.

Ben requested an IHOP make-a-face dinner.

 Saturday morning, Mama made wild blueberry muffins.

 Maddie wanted Double Dave's pizza.

And Jon's dessert pick was root beer floats (they got two candles that time because I wanted to make sure they each blew out seven candles.)

 

I think all three (plus Mama!) were excited at all the meal treats. It was a great way to celebrate birthdays over and over and over and over and over and over again.