Kids’ birthdays are a big deal on my side of the family. I’m not sure why we get so into them but we do. Our spread-out families typically travel for a party and we decorate to a T.

This year is extra special for the Roo household. Little Roo turns one (ZOMG!) and Big Roo turns a very big four. If you remember, my kids have the SAME BIRTHDAY three years apart so February 23 is one very important day around here.

Being that I’m a sucker for first birthdays, I wanted Little Roo to have his own birthday party. Will he remember it? Only in pictures. And he probably won’t give a crap. But it’s important to me to throw him a bash as crafty as I did for Big Roo… at least for this year.

And how left out would Big Roo feel if I did a party for Little Roo and not for him? Probably like turd. So what’s a mama to do?

Throw them ONE party and call it a day?

That’s a great idea… but that’s not how the crafty side of me rolls. Birthdays are not only a time to get all gushy about the kids growing up, it’s also a time for me to pretend like I’m Martha Stewart and get my craft on.

There I said it.

Birthdays are for me too.

There’s something about playing with paper, glue and scissors that just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

SO, I’m throwing TWO differently themed parties ON THE SAME DAY.

BACK TO BACK, people.

Yes, I-AM-NUTS.

Each party is 1.5 hours long because everyone who will be at Little Roo’s party will stay for Big Roo’s. Then some of Big Roo’s friends from school will just show up for his party. I have family who will switch out some decorations and plates but some of the stuff will be the same (I think I’ll decorate one room for Big Roo and one for Little Roo).

On top of all this, I’m doing this on a relatively tight budget. I’ll splurge a little on the baby’s cake but for the most part, I’m making 90% of the decorations myself.

Like so. I designed their invitations and printed them at home:

And I also have a crafty mess of supplies- some new, some old- ready for me to go all Martha on them.

Crafty? Absolutely. Crazy? Um, yes. Stupid? I sure hope not. Who cares as long as I’m having craftastic fun with it?

Some people bake for those they love. I craft.

For the record… I WILL NEVER REPEAT THIS DUAL PARTY FEAT.

So that only makes me half crazy, right?