For birthdays around here, we keep things pretty simple. Simple presents (see here), simple party (see here) and simple day (we cleaned  house…yawn).

But the one thing we always do (and the kids LOVE) is let the birthday boy choose all three meals on the day of their birthday. Anything they want to eat. 

My boys look forward to this SO much that they begin planning their birthday meals months in advance (and I am not exaggerating). 

Here is the conversation with Elias as we were making the real plans for his birthday (not the plans dreamed about and talked about back in November):

Mom:  Elias have you decided for sure what you want to eat on your birthday?

Elias:  Oh yeah!

M:  What would you like for breakfast that day? 

E:  Donuts!

M:  The kind Mama makes?

E:  No the unhealthy kind from the store with the frosting and sprinkles.

M:  All right. (since it’s your birthday) What would you like for lunch?

E:  Can we go to Country Kitchen?

M:  No, sorry not this year. Can I make you something from Mama’s Kitchen?

E:  How about hamburgers and french fries?

M:  Done. ( The hamburgers  and french fries from Mama’s Kitchen are mostly healthy, just don’t tell Elias.) What about dinner?

E:  Pizza!

M:  Fun. Your friends will be here then for the sleep over. Do you want everyone to make their own personal pizzas?

E:  No, can we have the unhealthy kind? I don’t mean the kind you order. Just any unhealthy kind would be fine.

M:  Okay. What kind of cake would you like this year?

E:  Um…a vanilla one with vanilla frosting. The unhealthy kind. From a box.

M:  I can make you a homemade one that’s vanilla and vanilla (with organic flour and sugar). Would that be okay?

E:  I really want a box cake.

M:  Okay. Would you like me to make a fun snack for you and your friends to eat while you watch a movie (since we’ll surely need a snack after pizza, cake, ice cream…)

E:  Oh, how ’bout chips?

M:  What kind of chips would you like?

E:  I think Cheetos. The big swirly kind cause I had those at Lincoln’s once.

M:  (gulp)  Okeedokee. I’ve got the list all set. Do you want to go on a date with me and help me pick all this stuff out?

E:  (eyes lit up)  Oh yeah!

And so we shopped and filled our cart with frozen pizzas, cake mix and frosting tub, ice cream, donuts and Cheetos. (I also bought organic apples and lettuce while I was there but they somehow looked out of place in the cart.)

Now as you’re reading this, you  might be thinking, “Oh, those poor boys are so deprived. They never get junk food so they crave it and have to wait until they either go to someone else’s house or have a birthday to request it. All she gives them is whole wheat homemade donuts. How can they possible taste good? They probably weigh two pounds each and taste like whole bran.”

But you’d be wrong (just this once). My homemade donuts are soooo good and they taste like real cake donuts only better (someday I’ll post the recipe). And my homemade pizza is delicious to and the boys LOVE it!

It’s just that some kids get excited because their mom bakes homemade cookies once a year at Christmas, but normally their mom buys packages of cookies from the store.

And my kids get excited because their mom normally makes most things homemade and this time for this special occasion will treat them to a frozen piece of round cardboard crust with meat bits and fake cheese on top. (and it’s a grand day at our house)

And so, Elias got his unhealthy birthday and loved it. Today, we’ll have unhealthy birthday leftovers (with apples). 

And tomorrow, it’s roast beef, potatoes, carrots and gravy.