Some Of My Favorite Birthdays

Birthdays are so fun, aren't they? To be completely honest, I think I like celebrating other people's birthdays more than my own (because I don't particularly like being the center of attention) which is one reason why I love how we do birthday parties! But I do have a few favorite memories from past birthdays.

Did you ever get a gift that you maybe were hoping for but didn't know you would get? Or maybe you had no idea it was coming? Do you remember your reaction upon opening the box? I can recall two specific instances where I distinctly remember my reaction to a gift.

I must have been about nine years old. My friend gave me a small, DVD-sized gift and I opened it to find High School Musical: Remix Edition. I was SO EXCITED!!! I believe there was squealing and flailing and lots of "oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!" I don't think I knew I was getting that, so it was a complete surprise.

The other time I remember specifically was getting a CD that I was totally addicted to. I had gotten it out of the library multiple times and listened to it CONSTANTLY! I was thrilled to have a copy that I never had to send back to the library :)

Then there were the experiences. I used to have sleepovers with two particular friends and our birthdays are three years in a row and three months in a row. We would celebrate our birthdays all at once, but whoever was having the "special birthday" kind of got to decide whose house we stayed at and more of what we did. When the oldest of us turned 13, she had a fun "hotel/spa" type sleepover at her house. I was next and we did the same kind of thing. When the youngest of us turned 13, we did it at her house and had a beach theme. (I still have the little paper umbrellas from our drinks shoved into my corkboard!). Then the cycle started over with turning sixteen!

I wanted to through my friend a surprise Sweet 16 party but she actually doesn't like surprises, so even though she knew it was happening, I tried valiantly (but with little success) to keep some of the details a surprise. She still had a really good time but I remember telling her how funny it was that she'd rather know something was happening but know zero details than just be in the dark. I'd much rather just be in the dark. She remembered that. 

The next year was my sixteenth birthday. A few weeks after my birthday, we were supposed to be having meeting at our friends' house. There was a new business in town and they were interested in partnering with homeschoolers. I was NOT looking forward to this meeting. It was for something I cared nothing about and I just didn't understand why I had to be there. My mom said I needed to make sure I dressed and did my hair like I would want it because they might do some promo photos. Fine. The only good thing was that I'd get to be with my friend.

Well, what I didn't know was that the whole thing was a cover story for a surprise birthday party!!!!! Most of the other guests were dropped off and the cars that stayed parked down the street at my friend's house. I still remember it perfectly. We came in through the door from the garage and the first thing I see on the floor is black paper footprints on the floor. Now, that might make some people suspicious, but you would have to know my friends. I thought, "that's strange and weird" but yet it was totally not a surprise for them. Then I turn the corner to look down the stairs into the living room and I was stunned!

The first person I really registered was a friend I hardly ever saw and he was supposed to be at basketball practice! He skipped practice to come to my party! The next person was one of my best friends who I also didn't see often. I clued in pretty quickly to what was going on but I was SO surprised!!

The party was a murder mystery and I don't remember much of the details, but when I think of that party, I think of my two friends who planned it and put it on. I think of friends who made time in their busy schedules to be there. Friends who skipped things to celebrate with me. I remember feeling so loved. It's probably my most favorite birthday memory ever.

Do you have a birthday that stands out in your memory? What makes that birthday so special?