I think this is a very sweet option (excuse the pun).
This brought back memories have having graham crackers and milk when I was in kindegarden right before nap time.

I'm sure the kids had a great time, but really who was this party for? Aesthetically speaking it's lovely, for adults to look at.
I don't know what kid would say: wow mom you put a lot of thought in to making the red pop with that neutral color scheme and our wall color.

I agree with the commenter above, this looks like something for adults. It's good for kids to be stimulated and engaged. I don't think neutral colors really do that.

I know your boys' birthdays are one week apart, and I know any birthday party is a lot of work, but unless they are twins I think every kid deserves their own birthday party. My brother and sister have birthdays 2 days apart (a 3 year age gap, like yours) but they never had to share, they always got their own party. Yes it was a lot of work (mostly for my mother), and yes it was a crazy week (for all of us), but every kid deserves their own party!

I agree with Stationeryfiend. Every kid deserves his or her own special day, and having a joint birthday party is robbing them of that. It's really just to make things easier on yourself as parents, isn't it? Gee, how selfish of you.

Aside from that, it probably tasted great, but it kinda looks boring for a kid's party. :/

Love a party centered around the best part: desserts! Yum!

So many kids parties have become overdone, your milk and cookie theme is sweet. The party table is lovely and I like sending the kids home with milk and cookies as a favor.

I think it is fine idea to have a joint birthday party when they are younger and have no idea. My kids are two years apart less one week and while they are little and don't know the difference we are totally doing joint parties. Our kids have so much already they aren't going to suffer because of something they don't even understand yet.

LadyYearL0803, thank you! My husband and I couldn't stop laughing at the comments. What you can't see is that our one year old slept through the entire party! I'm sure he will in therapy in a few years. :) The kids had a great time, and if you go to my blog you can see more pictures.

I don't see anything wrong with this party. It's nicely done without being over the top, as a lot of parties have taken a turn to. Quite frankly, birthday parties are as much for the kids as for the parents; we celebrate another joyous year we have made it through as mother and father, and I'll be damned if I don't celebrate it. And especially for the first few years, when kids are not too vocal about preferences, I'll make of the party what I want.

I don't see anything wrong with having a joint party, either!! And to the person who said, "Gee, how selfish of you,"- comments like that are the reason I stay off of parenting websites-- my blood boils every time I see that sanctimonious judgment crap.

I bet you many kids are blessed enough to have MULTIPLE people/friends/relations/classmates with whom they celebrate, and that their actual birthday does not go without felicitous remark (and even a special gift or two reserved just for the day).

Also, there's always the option of celebrating your child's Name Day. Our daughter is due in November, but we're reserving the right to celebrate her Finnish Name Day, too! :)

I love this theme, by the way. I might have presented it differently, but I love that you kept it to the essentials and made the overabundance of sweets the center of the decor- rightfully so! xo

Adult birthday-sharer here, ready to chime in!

My younger sister and I were born three years MINUS one week apart (and my birthday was the day before my grandfather's). We ended up having joint parties--still do--but just for the family. Fewer cakes to make, candles to blow out, miles to drive, etc. But we were allowed our own friend parties, which I can say I'm really grateful for now. My younger sister and I are two completely different people with entirely different friends (and I will be fully honest and admit that I was not the nicest older sister and picked on her a lot). When my sister had her friend party, I got to go over to a friend's house to stay out of the way and vice versa.

And again, for the sake of honesty, I can't remember birthdays dating back before the days of elementary school. So those parties are probably fine for sharing. Before going to school and being exposed to kids your age, your friends are more likely than not going to be kids of your parents' friends or kids in your neighborhood, and age (and age differences) are mostly ignored. I'm going to guess that when kids are younger, moms are too busy doing the daily basics (diaper-changing, potty training, spoon feeding, shoe-lace tying, tooth brushing, etc) to plan and carry out separate parties. But once kids start getting old enough that they can do all the daily basics by themselves *and* have a very clear personal identity--I would say around third grade, maybe?--it would be better to start separating their birthday celebrations. At the very least, completely separate them by preteen years! That's when kids least want to share something that's meant to be special just for them. Well, most kids. As with most things, it would depend on the kids in question.

So, conclusion: this mom is not in the wrong. Sharing birthdays is not traumatizing, is not going to scar them for life, and is not going to send them to therapy. Chill out, everybody.

Cool! We just had a joint birthday party for my two boys, ages 4 and 1 (birthdays close together, too). I really love your milk and cookies theme. I bet the kids loved those giant red balloons! Way to go with keeping it simple. The bright pops of color look even more dramatic because of the neutral colors.

Thanks, @Hayleymar... "chill out, everybody" indeed. :)

First of all, they do not CARE about having to share a party at that age. (Share TOYS---wow, that's another story.) Second, our family members drive a minimum of 3 hours, and some closer to 6, to attend. I simply cannot ask them to do that twice, or make them choose one party over the other. When my boys are older, I'm sure they'll love having something separate with their friends. And we'll also be able to ask them what they want.