What's in a picture?

This post is sponsored by The Picture Company.

My wife and I are a couple of saps. We get teary-eyed at the drop of a hat. It’s one of the first things we learned about each other and one of the first things we bonded over. I can’t remember what we were crying about that first time, but I’m quite sure it was something as ridiculous as this.

Big kids playing with little children

I'd never given much thought to the typical kiddie birthday party. You buy some balloons, hire a clown, eat some cake, open some presents, then you go home. Party over. Simple and sweet. But also kind of expected. My wife, who in a former life was a wedding coordinator, has introduced me to the idea that a party, whether it be for a wedding or for a kids' birthday, is not just a party. It can be so much more.

It can be an experience. It can be imaginative, surprising, and even (gasp) fun. It can make you forget about the rough week you had at work. It can make you not mind that chocolate stain on your nice shirt because your taste buds are doing somersaults and high fives. It can make you feel like a kid again.