Birthday in France - A Child's Party!

Wow, can't believe my youngest turned 5!

This is my baby - she just turned 5 on October 1st!  Can you believe how time flies? It really does seem like she was born not that long ago.  Her birthday celebration stretched out over almost a week.  She was thrilled!!  Her birthday fell on a Monday - and unfortunately I was returning from Paris that evening - so her she got the birthday morning phone call from me and that night we enjoyed macaroons and chocolate cake from a Parisian patisserie.  Yummy!  She got to open a couple of fun smaller packages since it truly was her birthday.....but she waited until the following Saturday to have her friends over for a party and Sunday to have our family celebration.  I think she actually enjoyed having a birthday week instead of just a day!

So let me tell you a little about my littlest sweetheart.  She is a ray of sunshine and has been since the day she was born.  She's always smiling - has a great sense of humor and loves to try new things. She very social and bubbly - her first word as a baby was "Hi" - and she knew exactly how to use it to greet everyone!  Even strangers in grocery stores..eye contact and the "Hi"!  She always likes to talk to other kids her age.  She will approach another child in a park and ask to play together and then announce she's made a new friend!   She tries very hard to keep up with her older sisters....wanting to be like them and do what they do.  She's just a joyful loving spirit!  

This is her first birthday in France - so it was very special.  She was very specific  on what she wanted - 

Friends - cupcakes - and a party!

Now it's really nice that here where we are in France - most parties are held at home.  They are low-key - usually involving some kind of activity, cake and gifts.  She has been invited to her fair share - so she knew what she liked.  We invited 9 of her good friends - she was thoughtful to add 2 little boys to the mix.  She asked that they all come dressed up (Viens deguisee) - this is common for parties of their age no matter what time of year.  I love this - as it's a great way to use that "Halloween" or Carnival costume more than once!

My oldest daughter helped me organize some games - parachute tag, musical chairs and a listening game.  All the kids seemed to have a blast.  We also took time to decorate a wooden frame with Washi tape and stickers.  

Since the weather was beautiful - mid- 70's - we played the games outside and she also got to open her gifts outside.  For me it was so much fun watching all of these children interact - and parade around in their costumes.  Some of the games - like musical chairs and parachute tag - were familiar to the kids - but other games like Hot potato and the listening game were new - easily translated into French and they all seemed to enjoy them.

The next day, Sunday - we had my husband's parents over for a big afternoon meal and did our family celebration - this time it was individual pastries for dessert.  Miss Birthday girl - loved her "religeuse chocolat"  (Creme puffs).  

Here's what we all got to enjoy!!  Yum!!  Sorry, hard to find these in the States.

Then there are always gifts to open....from her sisters, us and her grandparents...

 She even had gifts from her grandmother in the States...which she enjoyed opening...Quite the birthday celebration!  By the way, the scarf and headband were birthday gifts - her request.  Love when they are little and they really want certain simple things!  I think she's looking pretty French in her style!

I think she loved her new scooter!!  She went immediately outside to try it out!  

So I would say overall - birthday parties and celebrations are similar to how we did it in the States.  Enjoy your friends, invite them over and have fun!!  What I have enjoyed over this past year, is feeling like the birthday parties here were more like the ones I grew up with....at home and fairly simple.  Very few of them are held at different venues - these places do exist like bowling, rope's courses, cooking at the science museum - but the majority of the parties are low key - spending time with your friends.  To me that's refreshing.  So Happy Birthday to my 5 year old!!  Enjoy your year!!