by Kim Perrone

Anyone can throw a birthday party. A cake, some balloons, a nice dinner, some friends, donkey tails, and Bob's your uncle.

It takes a dedicated family to catch loved ones off-guard with surprises popping up throughout the day.

RISE AND SHINE
Set the scene for your loved one to awake in a room full of balloons, streamers, flowers, banners, themed decorations, giant greeting cards, or stuffed animals wearing party hats.
If someone plays an instrument, include a serenade. (We're talking guitar, flute, or keyboard here — not trumpet!) As well, arrange for a surprise guest (grandparent, grandchildren, friend) to appear in the doorway. Perhaps the guest can present breakfast in bed.

On the other hand, if you know your loved does not appreciate fusses, give the gift of sleeping in.

STACK IT UP
There are some who start the big day with birthday cake. If that sounds nauseating first thing in the morning, think out of the (cake) box! Stack up more conventional foods in a celebratory manner.
Present pancakes, crepes, French toast, or waffles in one tall stack. Decorate with whipped cream. Stick candles in the top and croon the birthday song. Alternatively, serve a banana-bread cake, or fill one of those trendy cupcake-stacking trees with muffins!

Build a tower of toast layered with butter and/or jam and set on a platter. Surround the tower with scrambled eggs and bacon.

To enjoy lunchtime fun, stick candles into a pile of peanut butter and jam sandwiches, quiche, or the thicker crusts of a pizza.

SPECIAL DELIVERY
When birthdays fall on school or work days, send a special delivery.

If the celebrant brown-bags it or carries a backpack, they can self-deliver - sneak in a card, note, extra-money to buy a treat, or a small gift.

Hand-deliver a cupcake to your child at lunch or meet your spouse for lunch unexpectedly. Drop off a surprise gift at your spouse's office ahead of time and entrust a co-worker to sneak it onto their desk.

Use professional delivery — but make it unique. Seek out a florist who thinks outside the vase! Businesses such as Funky Petals (funkypetals.com) offer unusual arrangements that warrant a second and third look.

What college student would not enjoy a cookie delivery to share with dorm pals? Try Cookies by George (cookiesbygeorge.com).

If your loved one is adventurous (or, you feel they need to be more so) browse the exciting gifts at lifeexperiences.ca or perfectday.ca. From spa days to skydiving, your gift will be the definition of unique.

IT'S A SET-UP
Turn the day into a scavenger hunt or a series of clues hinting at a birthday gift or event.

Enlist help from people and places who are normally in your loved one's day. Through pre-planning, your child's teacher, lunch lady, or coach can suddenly hand him a clue.

Your spouse's co-worker, boss, or the clerk at the coffee shop she visits each morning could do the same. The dog or cat could innocently walk by with a clue attached to its collar!

EXPRESS YOURSELF
Don't hold back in expressing your celebrant's importance to your family's life. Write a love note on the bathroom mirror with lipstick or shaving cream. Leave notes on pillows, attached to keys, stuck to a bookmark, in the hand of a favourite doll, or on top of a toy.

Create a photo book, try My Memory Book (mymemorybook.ca), depicting your loved one's many talents. In captions, point out the gifts they give you through their best traits.

Thank God out loud for your birthday “kid.” Pray for him as a family. Amid the presents and hullabaloo, remind your celebrant that they are a gift from God — one your family gets to enjoy each day.

For more Family Focus articles, visit our Archives!

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