How do you handle close birthdays?

My brother and I have birthdays that are only 2 days apart and my mother frequently gave us joint bday party's. Something I really didn't appreciate as a teenager, nothing like sharing your 17th bday with your 10 year old brother

With my boys we did share the big ''at home'' party's (1, 5, 10, 13) but the ones in between we had the family and 2 friends to McDonalds (or other themed take out place) on seperate weekends.

We also instituted Ricky's Day (3rd sunday in September) and Tony's Day (1st Sunday in August) so that they would have one day that was theirs alone. It is not an expensive day, they get to choose what we cook for dinner, they get the breakfast of their choice in the location of their choice (in bed, on the couch in front of the tv) and gifts from the $2 shop. This 'day' is just celebrated among the immediate family (Mum, Dad and brothers) no one else.

The other thing we have always done right from their 1st bday is to have two cakes even if we were having one party. They had their own cake decorated in the style of their choosing.

Gosh, I wish that I knew the answer to this one! Payton's bday is 5 days before Bailey's. We just try to do something for each child and make it 'their day' if you kwim. All four of my kiddos bdays are right on top of each other and this past year I felt soooo bad because we didn't have the money to give Emily a big party like she wanted. I am determined not to let that happen again this year. I took $150 per child from our tax return and hid it so that everyone can have a party this year. I am so excited for them!
I am sure that you will figure out a way to make each bday special

We are having a joint birthday party this year since they are only 7 days apart and no family would drive this far to come 2 consecutive weekends to a child's party We will probably do this until Rhyne requests to have her own party. Braylen doesn't know any better and Rhyne doesn't care. We are going to take her out to eat on her birthday though, and do something that she wants to do. Also, this year they are only having one cake (as neither one cares) 1/2 and 1/2 Rhyne chose the theme, and since it was unisex we went with it.

This is what we are going through now with the girls, and here is what we are doing. (Their Birthday Party is next Sunday.)

They will have 1 party until they are old enough to tell us that they want separate ones. They will ALWAYS have a cake on their birthday and dinner of their choice. We let them choose what flavor cake they want and they each have their own. (Good thing my Mom and I both bake homemade cakes!) We also took them to IHOP for breakfast. We did this last year also, so this will be a tradition.

Since they are old enough now to pick out things, for their Birthday (which was Tuesday) I let them each pick out a pack of character plates to make it more like a 'party' since they have to wait 2 weeks for their big party. Emily chose Dora and PJ chose Elmo.

For their big party, I let them choose the theme. For that they both chose Care Bears, but again, I would have also let them each pick what they wanted. I have no problem with a "Two Theme Party" so to speak. Again, they will each have their own cake, whatever kind they want. (Emmie wants chocolate, PJ wants vanilla with strawberry filling. My Mom and I will bake and decorate the cakes ourself. )

When they are old enough to tell me that they want seperate parties, then we will have 1 party the weekend before their Birthday, and one party the weekend after. The catch is that if they want seperate parties then they will be small parties, nothing major. If they want their party together, then they can have a big party. I really hope that they want to have their parties together, that way we can have a larger budget to work with. If I have to throw two parties within a week of each other, I won't be able to spend as much.