Kids' Birthdays

2023 - To Each, their Own

Lillianne planned, & executed her own Birthday Pool Party in the back yard. She invited a load of friends that took over the back yard & pool for the day. Then Lilly got her 'big girl' (queen-sized) bed from Mom & Dad.

Roman & Tristan were subjected to the 2nd Degree Black Belt Testing on their Birthday & over the following weekend. Obviously, they were successful in their testing.

Like Lilly received her Katana for her 15th birthday, the Boys both received their Katanas for their 15th.

If you haven't noticed before, the kids each get their own Birthday cake/pie/etc. on their Birthday Morning.

2022 - An afternoon in the Park and NASA

This year Lilly's beloved Theater put a damper on her usual Tea & Party with friends in the back yard. Lilly quickly repurposed plans for all the food Gramma prepared & put together an afternoon in Balboa Park. She invited a friend to hang out with us & we wandered the museums, etc. Gramma delivered enough food for an army, as usual. Turned out to be a pretty relaxing afternoon, ending on the Balboa Park Carrousel.

The Boys' Birthday was meshed into a trip to tour around Southern Texas, spending their Birthday at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Flying into Austin & cruising to Houston. Spent an evening in Galveston, where we "forced" the Boys to go out for their Birthday Dinner (they wanted to order pizza & play video games on their Birthday Night - Dorks!). We then drove through San Marcos, TX on our way to Canyon Lake for one last night before flying home.

The highlight of the NASA tour was reliving the Moon Landing, as originally experienced, in the actual Apollo 11 Mission Control Center - WOW!!!

But the real highlight of the entire trip was experiencing BUC-EE'S (Buc-ee's is a chain of country stores and gas stations). Typical was 100+ gas pumps, the largest & cleanest restrooms ever, & some of the best BBQ you can imagine - Nothing else like it!!!

2021 - The Make-Up Year

The kids basically carried thru with all of the cancelled plans from 2020...

Lillianne planned, & executed her own Birthday Party in the back yard. She invited a handful of friends that did the teen hangout in the far back yard for the day. Then Lilly got her dream Katana from Mom & Dad.

Roman & Tristan enjoyed Laser Tag, followed by a late nite game of Dungeons & Dragons. The first weekend of the local Laser Tag Arena opening back up, we did the full-on pizza party with a load of friends. When the final game ended, a handful of buddy's returned to our place for a killer game of D&D, with Uncle Brand as the Dungeon Master.

Otherwise, their birthday was filled with taking the quads out to our favorite off-road park, & the family's favorite Chinese Buffet.

2020 - The year that Wasn't

When literally ALL Birthday Plans were decimated, due to draconian lock-downs, the Stepp Family made the best of the times, as usual. Birthday sundaes delivered from Cold Stone, smores campfires in the back yard, board games, etc. became the "fun times".

So this year sucked for everyone, but you can't specify the level of suckage for kids that were forced to drop EVERYTHING that made their lives fun. I only hope that we made it at least bearable for them.

But the weekly "Sunday Gnomes" was the highlight of every week. Sitting in the front yard with neighbors & waving to the drivers, walkers, runners, etc. every Sunday. Special weeks like the kids' Birthdays were times for BBQ's, cakes, etc. while we waved. And then most weeks, the shaved Hawaiian Ice truck would come by. Neighbors would come out to get some. Simple Times

2019 - Knott's Berry Farm

When looking for something to do, we found the deals at Knott's to be awesome. So it was a chance for the kids to experience a different kind of amusement park then they were used to. Funny, they were kind of bummed to find out that Knott's Berry Farm was a Park & not an actual Farm.

But we hit the end of Boysenberry Festival, you can see the 2-foot Boysenberry Hot Dog we all did for lunch one day.

In addition, Lilly had a Pool Party for her friends, because she wanted to invite boys. The boys repeated last years' sleepover, Lasertag & movies all night.

2018 - The Great Wolf Lodge

After last years' Sky Diving Adventure instead of a large party, the kids chose to do it again this year. Planning started out as a weekend getaway at Universal Studios. But while looking for a hotel, we came across a great deal at the Great Wolf Lodge.

We went away for a couple days & enjoyed the water park. The Kids saved up for Jenn's Birthday & covered half of the expense of a Cabana Rental for a day. So we had a nice home base with loads of drinks, tv, etc. which turned out to be a good thing, as Roman wasn't feeling good.

As usual, Lilly had a separate sleepover during her birthday weekend. Doing the things girls do, while us boys gamed thru the night on our 2nd Annual Gaming/Campout Night at my Office. Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures & movies all night long.

For the boys birthday weekend, they had a sleepover, proceeded by a Lasertag Evening with a handful of their buddies.

2017 - Lilly, Roman, & Tristan's High Flying Birthday

This year we opted for something completely different. Instead of a big, joint birthday party, we did a Family Adventure!

We spent the afternoon down in San Diego's Old Town. Panning for skeletal remains, street tacos, etc were all part of the day. Then we headed for the kids' surprise - iFly (indoor skydiving). Family came to watch as the Stepp Clan took turns flying in the indoor skydiving facility. What an experience, none of the kids regretted not having a big party.

We then headed to a long-time Family Favorite - Lido's Italian Restaurant, for dinner. Family & friends joined us dinner.

Aside from Our day of Adventure, Lilly & the Boys had separate Birthday Sleepovers. The Boy's sleepover was extended with a viewing of the newly released Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 with a whole bunch of Cub Scout Friends.

2016 - Hawaiian Nerf Shoot-out Birthday Bash

The Kids Birthday Bash this year, Hawaiian Luau in the backyard. While, the boys held a Nerf War in the far back. As has become the norm these past couple years, the kids have gone in separate directions with the themes for their Birthday Bash - So...

Lillianne attended a Hawaiian Luau in the Pool Area/Back Yard. Included was a Hula-hoop competition as well as Hula Dancing, and a load of kalua pork!

Roman, Tristan & close to 50 kids fought the good fight in the far back reaches of the Stepp Ranch. Nerf Guns Blazing - We had some Capture the Flag, All out Frag-fest, Zombie Outbreak, etc.

2015 - That Angry Bird Was A Lego Mermaid Birthday Bash

This year was the motherlode - THREE individual themes!!!There were mermaids lounging at the pool, Angry Birds taking down the Empire, & Lego Racing inside the house! Lillianne's 9th, Roman & Tristan's 7th Birthdays.

2014 - Frozen Lego Pool Party

This year we managed to combine the 2 separate themes into a single Birthday Party. Princess Lillianne wanted a Frozen Party of Course. But the boys have completely embraced their love of Legos.

I build a Racetrack Table for racing Lego cars, which kept most of the boys busy ALL DAY! The Frozen side of the party was included a Tea Party, but was mostly spent in the Pool. We made the food easy on ourselves this year by catering from a new favorite taco shop. This year we probably ended up with a dozen or so people, cooling off in the pool. It was a bit tamer from last years party, but still loads of fun.

2013 - Brave Birthday Games

To celebrate the Birthdays of Princess Lillianne, Prince Roman, & Prince Tristan, King Troy & Queen Jennifer held a day of traditional Highland Games to celebrate.

As guests arrived, the kids each tried to coax them to join THEIR team for the games, inviting everyone to don each of the kids' tartans. We had many traditional Highland Games, but the one that really took the day, was "musical chairs" played with hoola hoops. I believe at one point we probably had a good 20-25 people, cooling off in the pool. It was a great success for the first of many great parties at our new home.

2012 - Star Wars: The Birthday Wars

Everyone was asked to choose their side in the Great Birthday Wars. Some came in costume, donning their Jedi or Sith robes. We celebrated Lillianne's 6th and Roman's & Tristan's 4th Birthdays with bounce house, lots of food, fun, & lightsaber battles.

Lillianne was a Jedi Knight, Roman was a Clone Trooper, & Tristan was a Sith.

2011 - Disneyland

To end our "Year of Disneyland", we decorated the house with a couple hundred photos of our trips to Disneyland for the Home Edition of the Birthday Party. Disney music set the atmosphere for the party, as we played games where the kids won Disney Trading Pins, Mouse Ear Hats, & Tiaras. Lillianne requested her first pinata, which the kids gathered candy from into their 'vintage Disneyland popcorn boxes'.

The following week was included a few days at the Disneyland Resort, to end our Annual Passports the right way - The Parks Edition of the Birthday. We stayed at the HoJo across from the Parks, with a view of the Matterhorn from our room & a Pirate Ship Sprayground at the pool. We enjoyed our regular Birthday Dinner at the Anaheim Buca. And the kids each got to build their own RideMakerz cars at Downtown Disney.

2010 - Barbie and the Nutcracker

Lillianne & the girls all dressed in tiaras & tutus. Roman, Tristan & the boys were issued capes & swords. We made the best of the grounds at the Mira Mesa apartment with train rides, dancing & games.

2009 - Neverland

This was the first of the big joint birthday parties. Lillianne's 3rd & the Twins' 1st birthday. At a perfectly laid-out park in Santee, we took the trip to the 2nd star on the right & straight on till morning. For this trip to Neverland, all the girls decorated their own fairie wings. The boys decorated their own pirate, pan, and other lost boy hats. Captain Hook organized a Lost Boy Favorite - Find Hook's Treasure, where they followed the familiar map of Neverland (laid out to relate to the park) to Hook's Treasure Chest full of treasures.

2008 - Lillianne's Second

Lilly's second birthday was a repeat of her first birthday, with the addition of an air matress and a lot fewer people. Both due to the fact that Jennifer was about to have Roman & Tristan a couple weeks later.

2007 - Strawberries & Ladybugs

Lillianne's First Birthday was all about strawberries & her ladybug dress. We had lots of friends & kids at the local park in Santee, around the corner from home.

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