This takes the cake -- a strange British birthday tradition

Now that Christmas is over, birthday party season has started again.

On the first day back at school my three got several invites between them. I don't remember going to so many parties when I was five. Maybe they weren't as memorable back when bell bottoms were all the rage. They were always at home (occasionally we went to see a movie). I remember having a few friends over, we played games like pin the tail on the donkey and musical chairs and opened presents. The highlight was eating birthday cake and ice cream.

These days my girls talk about their party months before it happens. We usually end up inviting the whole class and a few extras, especially when they were younger. They eat lots of sweets, get an obscene amount of presents and then have a break down the size of Mt. Everest.