What to do with a Quarantine Birthday

We all know we would rather be outside than inside, playing tag with our friends rather than reading a book, and going to school rather than online school. 

But something that is even worse than all of the quarantine "privileges" we already have is quarantine birthdays. Whether you are turning 6 or 16, we all know what a quarantine birthday is NOT going to be - friends, party favors, sleepovers, you name it - it's likely these things aren't on this list. But what are some things that ARE? Behold - 

What to do with a Quarantine Birthday when you're Birthday is in Quarantine (okay, that was a long title)

#1- Brisket and Donuts

Okay, that may seem like a strange combination. But I don't literally mean eat brisket with donuts. What I mean is find an expert chef (In our case, it was our good church friends on the other side of town) and get together with them the night before your birthday. Bring over a brisket and help the expert chef smoke it, and let it cook overnight! Then, the next morning, pick up donuts on the way over to pick up your brisket (and buy the expert chef and his family a box of donuts, too, because he helped you make such a delicious meal) and eat donuts together when you pick up your brisket! Serve your newly cooked brisket for lunch.

#2- Drive-By Birthday

I bet a ton of people have already thought this one up, but if you haven't, here is the perfect thing to brighten up the birthday gloom. Surprise your family member or friend that is having a quarantine birthday by setting up a drive-by birthday party. Bring water balloons, nerf guns, Texas snowballs- anything you can think up! Honestly, the best birthday surprise is when your best friend drives up with a water balloon in hand and then your youth pastor comes from behind and pelts you with a water balloon while you are distracted by your best friend trying to soak you. Or maybe the best birthday surprise is driving up to your friend's house in your huge car with a turret cut out of cardboard on the top aiming at them with a nerf gun with the rock music blasting as loud as it goes.

#4- Video Get-Together

Everyone knows at least a few people who live far away. Far enough that getting together, be it video or in person, is a rarity. So, a couple weeks or days ahead of a birthday in the house, plan a huge video call for the birthday sibling or parent with everyone they know! Zoom, Google Meet, FaceTime, Skype, anything, just get everyone together and let them get to know each other! It will be refreshing to see peoples faces that you haven't seen in forever, and you can introduce people to more of your friends that live all over the place!

#5- Around Town Photo Scavenger Hunt

This one doesn't have to literally be a scavenger hunt, but it is definitely something to try. Tell your friends and family to take pictures of different things, like them eating their favorite donut or burger, holding their best lego masterpiece, and holding up a birthday sign or making a short happy birthday video for the birthday sibling or parent. Then, have them send 'em all in to you, and take some pictures yourself! After this, you can go one of two ways; showing the (in my case) birthday boy all of his best friends and family members doing these things in a slideshow, or going around town and doing them himself while looking at the photos of everyone else's experiences! This fun, photo scavenger hunt is a really fun idea for friends around the country or family that doesn't get to see one another very often. 

#6- A Photo Slideshow

 This is a fun one for an unsuspecting family member. Throughout the day or week, make a slideshow online. Start with finding pictures of the family, kids, parents, outings, anything, and pile them together in a slideshow format, with occasional words or sentences. Wrap up by saying what they mean to you, and then give them a big hug! I did this one for my brother's birthday a few weeks ago, and he loved it! A really great way to end the night.

(I would show you the actual slideshow, but technically I'm not supposed to show faces in this thing...)