“Our Near Armstrong Turns Four”

I've been away here for how many days because of my hectic schedule. Lol, it sounds like I was working, Uhm... yes I am, but I am working for something else. I'm working on my son's celebration, and it was last Tuesday.

The most awaited day of the month has come. My son turned four (4) years old yesterday. Hooray! 🎉

Lemme introduce first with you my firstborn son, our little “Armstrong”, Near. If you're wondering why he is called Armstrong, it is because he loves the solar system so much and he wants to be an astronaut like Neil Armstrong. He wants to see the universe, his dreams are too big for his size. He's a wanderer.

Of course, I wanted to make him happy on his special day, he wanted a solar system theme for his birthday. I'm wondering, how can I make a solar system theme, props for this kind of birthday is so hard to find in the party needs store? To make it possible, we decided to make “Do-it-yourself” crafts for his birthday.

This was the main reason why I can't stay active here lately.

DIY Crafts/Props

Using a cardboard box, I made a circle for the planets, and using oil pastel, I asked my partner to give color to the eight planets one by one. I'm just happy that we have available materials for his birthday props.

Materials needed: cardboard or cartons, bondpaper, glue, scissors, and oil pastel.

Then, I made his name out of cartons too and covered it with a gold metallic paper. I chose the color gold so it will complement the solar system.

I also made a number standee out of cartons too.

For the standee, the materials needed are boxes or cartons, scotch tape or double-sided tape, scissors, metallic paper.

Specifically, this kind of standee can't stand alone without support, so to make it stand you should insert something heavy inside of it. I used a medium size stone here. 😅

Honestly, I can finish this “do-it-yourself” thing if I will do it for the whole day. But I finished it after 3 days, because I have to attend my son's modules, and I took care of him and his little brother as well.

The Setup

The eight planets were done, his name and his number standee. Now all I did draw a picture in my mind for the setup. I slept late at night just to set up his birthday theme before his birthday comes. It was November 16 in the evening, after my sons slept, my partner and I started to decorate our dining area. It is where his simple birthday will be held.

Now here's our finished decorations. His Solar System themed Birthday. I am very satisfied with the outcome. I didn't expect to design a solar system theme, I mean it is very unusual. Commonly, children's parties for boys are themed with superheroes or cartoon characters.

To make it more attractive, we added the glow in the dark stars or fluorescent toys. I bought it for only ₱15.00 in the market. While we ordered some balloons from an online shop. We chose luminous blue balloons, emojis printed balloons to symbolize the eight planets and transparent stars balloons.

I also put Christmas lights on the number standee to add highlights to it.

The Party

November 17, early in the morning my son was surprised to see our dining area. He was mesmerized by what he saw that morning.

Wow! Is this mine mama?

Yes Near, Happy Birthday Kuya (big brother)!

Where's Mr. Sun? Oh! Where's my lumpia?

I laughed when he uttered those words. He loves lumpia so much, we both love it. 😅

Using a Bluetooth speaker we played his favorite solar system songs. While we were cooking the food, my son sang together with the music. He loves to sing along with the planet songs so much.

My tired body was cured when I saw how happy he was that day. He's satisfied with the designs we made for his birthday.

The Food

We're on a tight budget as always. That's why I chose to make our. DIY props for this event. But of course, the food must be delicious!

His cake was sponsored by his godfather and he is my cousin. On every birthday of my son, he usually presents himself to sponsor the cake, and I'm very grateful to him. My son requested something unique, he wants a cake with a twist of the solar system. I chose the design of the cake and we looked for a baker online for customization. Honestly, it wasn't the design I expected from the baker, it should be a galaxy cake, yet the outcome came out so good. It looked more like a moon cake that fits our cake toppers. By the way, we bought the cake toppers in an online shop too.

And this blue ube cake was a gift from his godmothers, my high-school friends.

Spaghetti shouldn't be missing on this occasion. I cooked the spaghetti and I assure you it's delicious. 😁 Of course, with my special sauce, it blended the pasta very well, and the visitors' feedback was, it's delicious. (I don't know if they really meant it, or they just stating white lies) 😅

But the kids and the adults love it so much. There's still a leftover in the fridge. And that's what we ate for breakfast this morning.

My Partner cooked Bam-i too. This food recipe is sure to be a hit at any occasion. This dish consists of two types of noodles, sotanghon and pancit canton.

I forgot to took a picture of it, by the time visitors get their meals, bam-i was the first dish they consumed.

While the cake has no free cupcakes, I bought whattatops instead. One of my cousins sponsored the printed solar system cupcake toppers.

Did you see that picture frame? It was edited by me. My son loves the universe so much and to fulfill his little big dream, I edited him with an astronaut costume. And believe it or not, his developed picture only costs ₱7.00! I also bought the frame costing ₱55.00.

“His happiness is our happiness.”

While I took pictures of him in front of his cake, I saw how happy he was. His happiness is priceless! All of his pictures have a smile on his face. He can't get off that sweet precious smile the whole celebration.

As a practical mom, I chose to make his birthday extra special with some effort. A birthday doesn't need to be costly or pricey. It doesn't matter if it's simple or an extravagant one, what matters most is the precious moments filled with happiness and as what the old saying says,

“It's the thoughts that count.”

Despite the occasion is over, busy days are still there. My schedule as a mom is 24/7 with overtime. But I'm very glad that we fulfilled his little wish for his birthday. To give him a solar system themed party. Yet, I'll try my best to make time here once again.

I also posted here his little brother's birthday last September 3, 2020.

If you haven't seen it, you can take a look too. His birthday was DIY also. 😊

My son turns One year Old today!

I have nothing to ask for in life, all I prayed and planned is to give my sons a better future and life as they grow. I'm wishing them all the best in life and I'll be happier to see them grow into good man, with respect, values, and integrity. My two little sons are my strength. They are my everything.

#OurNearArmstong #DIYSolarSystemThemedBirthday