What to do for a Dec 18th birthday?  We had a party after school on the day of his birthday, at our home. Weekends in December were always much too busy to have a birthday party. I did my usual over-the-top holiday decorating only this year I concentrated on using purples and a candy theme. I let 50 purple helium ballons with purple streamers lose to float around the ceiling. Guest were greated by two snowmen holding bunches of balloons and a happy birthday sign in the front yard. (BONUS: it was real snow!) I was concerned about having so many small children around my christmas tree that would be covered with wonderful old ornaments. So, we trimmed the tree with lights, ribbons for garland and let the kids finish the decorating. We asked them to help decorate his Birthday tree. Birthday presents were placed under the tree. Beneath the tree were dozens of bowls of candy. Kid candy, like WONKA candy, ring pops and lots of christmas theme candies. We had plenty of small cars and other toys, water guns, girly lip glosses, mittens, party hats, noise makers and any other little glittery anythings from the dollar stores. Bowls of fruit loop cereal and colored cord were also there for stringing. "How the Grinch..." was on the TV in the backround.  Gingerbread houses and candy topiaries were used to decorate the kitchen. We made waffles and ice cream and had a cake that was a four car decorated chocolate train. Many of the parents stayed and for them a very simple Antipasto and champagne. Grandma was a great help painting faces and making balloon animals. And after two hours of 40 sugar-frenzied kids running wild through my house, I handed them each a large paper bag and announced it was time to go home and that they should take whatever they could fit into the bags with them from the tree. They loved it and I didn't have to make up goody bags! Short of a good vacuuming, I was all ready for christmas. I just had to put the favorite trimmings on the tree.