Birthday Party in a Box

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A Virtual Celebration for my 5 Year Old Granddaughter

Happy Birthday, Dear Morgan….

In just one week, our first granddaughter (who I’m pretty sure we just held as a newborn a short time ago!) will turn five. Yes. A whole hand!

It is going to be a momentous day! While we would love to be with her for her big day, for a few different reasons, it looks like we’ll be celebrating virtually. And I’m looking forward to it!

I’ve got a plan and a box ready to go. In it will be a present of course, and all the makings for a fun little party.

Before I put this little party altogether and printed out the shipping label, I did some thinking and some expectation management. We’ll start there.

Don’t stress about the day!

Our virtual celebration does not have to be on her actual birthday. I’m sure there will be plenty of other plans going on! 

Talk to your grown kids about a day and time that works well.  It can be a family celebration, or it might be fun just to have a 2-person party – a special time – ‘just Grandma and me’.

Celebrate those who can be there!

As we arrange a time, I’m sure to hear about all the people who live closer who will get to celebrate in person.  It could be easy for me to show disappointment.

While it’s great to say I wish I could be there, it’s even better for me to celebrate all the people who will be!

Hold the party plan lightly.

As is the case with all of our connections, it’s important to hold the plan lightly. I want to be extra mindful of that for this little party. 

After all, it’s about communicating to this little girl how excited I am for her big day, and to share all the wonderful things I love about her much more than it is about checking off my party to-do list!

So…….what’s in the birthday box this year?

1. A Fun Birthday Banner – Assembled by Me. 

I’ll be making two. One for her house, and one for mine.  If they want to hang it up, great.  If they want to put it across the table, great.  They may want to use it in some other fun way…..it’s up to them. But it will be fun to have her see it at my house when we say hello!

We designed a couple of simple and cute birthday banners that you can download for free below!

2. A Birthday Hat

or in Morgan’s case a birthday tiara. I just may have a hat on too!

3. A birthday game

I’m trying birthday charades this year.  I’ll send them the word cards, and if more than just Morgan is at the party, they can all act out a few words. 

If it’s just Morgan and me, I’ll act and she can guess.  Most likely she will also want to add her own words, and I’ll do my very best to figure them out! 

The words/scenes are:

• blowing out candles
• eating cake
• opening a present
• making a wish
• dancing
• party dress
• hugging friends

4. A Birthday Snack Mix. 

I’m mixing up equal portions of popcorn, animal crackers (iced or plain), pretzels, fruit loops, and fish crackers.  I’ll sing my best rendition of Happy Birthday, and then we can chat away while we talk all things ‘birthday’.

5. A Birthday Letter

The letter will highlight some fun things we remember about the day of her birth, the things we love about her that are just ‘uniquely Morgan’, and the special gifts and talents I believe she is developing.  

I will keep a copy and may read it to her during our party, or her parents can read it to her at a different time.

P.S. If you love the idea of sending letters, check out the 10+ pen pal templates we offer for free!

6. A Gift

I will let her, along with her parents decide when to open.

I have no idea whether this party will last 10 minutes, or much longer.

But I do know that the time I spend preparing for this special day has been such a fun celebration for me, because it’s also my ‘became a Grandma’ birthday, and that’s definitely something to celebrate!