Camp Half-Blood, Family Traditions, and the Joy of Celebrating Twins!

Epic 12th Birthday

Well, we did it — another epic birthday party in the books. The twins turned twelve this month, and honestly, we are just grateful every year that they still want Mom and Dad to host a cool party. We know those days are numbered. Fingers crossed.

We are big on birthdays around here and see them not just as a celebration but as a rite of passage and a way to connect with their friends, mark the moment, reflect on years past, and anticipate a beautiful future.

This year’s theme was Camp Half-Blood, inspired by a fictional summer camp for demigods and supernatural beings from the Percy Jackson fantasy series (think Greek gods in the 21st century).

The series follows the protagonist, Percy Jackson, a young demigod who must save the world.

We started with a quiz to determine each guest’s godly parent. In Greek mythology, demigods were born to a mortal and divine parent, so knowing your godly parent is essential.

I modified this one — Quiz: Based on Your Work Habits, Which God Are You Descended From? by Read Riordan Staff — but used Canva to make it about middle school instead of work.

Then, while my husband led the campers in three epic games of Capture the Flag, I manually entered each camper’s quiz answers to determine the results. It was tedious, but these are the things we do for our kids, right?

By the way, we posted the Canva-created camp schedule on the front door and directed parents to drop their kids off in the open space behind our yard, making it part of the camp boundaries. Setting the stage from the get-go is a key party hack.

Starting with the invitation, attendees should recognize the imagery throughout. We ordered Camp Half-Blood bathmats for entry/exit points to designate where they could/couldn’t go.

I was surprised by how competitive Capture the Flag was. It’s a good thing we used inflatable swords and plastic helmets. Hubby helped with strategy, rules, and teamwork; we mixed up the teams each time.

I like to incorporate finishing touches or little surprises that personalize the party. One of these was hiding magical items — sunglasses — throughout the open space so that if anyone encountered the twin’s Little Sister, aka Medusa, they wouldn’t have to freeze for 90 seconds as long as they had sunglasses on.

I’m still finding pairs in the bushes when I water the garden.

After the games, the kids cooled off with a snack and lush berry juice (we used this recipe ).

Fun fact: It was snowing when the twins were born 12 years ago, and it was 82 degrees during their party.

I shared the quiz results during their break. We had five children with Aphrodite as a parent, three with Athena, two descendants of Apollo, two of Poseidon, and one whose dad turned out to be Hades.

Not all kids were thrilled with their results, so after the party, I texted the quiz link to the (mortal) parents for anyone interested in a retake.

After the break, we did a craft. I ordered pennant banners and ancient Greek and mythical creature stencils online, and the kids could create a Camp Half-Blood banner inspired by their godly parents’ cabins or go off book and do what they liked.

Most stuck with the Greek theme or used the stencils to get started, but we had some sophisticated artists in the group!

Finally, we enjoyed Oreo ice cream treats (instead of cake), sang Happy Birthday, and opened presents. I don’t know if you are for or against opening presents at the party, but I am pro presents!

The older the kids get, the cooler the presents are, and the cards are equally meaningful. For example, one gift was a vintage typewriter from the UK (obsessed), and one of the cards included original poems in Shakespearean text (impressed).

Birthday Themes Years 1–11

We tried to remember the twin’s birthday themes over the years and had to consult Google Photos for a few, but here they are (with notes):

Year 1: Smash Cake — obviously.

Year 2 Home: Up, Up and Away: Hot Air Balloons — you can’t go wrong with oversized balloons and a basket!

Year 2 Away: We took them to Disneyworld for the first time. I highly recommend the Four Seasons resort. It includes transportation to and from the parks, a lazy river, and a zero-entry splash park, and you can book character dining on-site.

Year 3 Away: Lake Tahoe! with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, plus a new baby sister!

Year 4 Home: Once Upon a Time: Snow White/Princess and the Frog — this was the first time they weighed in.

Year 5 Home: Disney Mashup party: Olaf, Lightning McQueen, Mickey, Minnie, and Star Wars Adventure — this was the second time they weighed in, and I didn’t think we could pull off all the activities and themes they wanted to include, but somehow it worked. The funniest part was when the princes, princesses, and characters turned on Darth Vader.

Year 5 Away: Disneyland — the fun thing about having October birthdays is that it’s the best time to travel, and Disney goes all out for fall/Halloween.

Year 6 Away: Australia! Every minute of one of our most meaningful family trips ever was more than we had hoped, and the lucky twins celebrated on the other side of the world. If you have the chance to do a Trans-Pacific cruise, I can’t say enough about the international date line crossing party.

Year 7 Home: Safari Party & Backyard Campout. We built a massive tent filled with stuffed safari animals, and everyone brought their favorite stuffies.

Year 7 Away: Disneyland.

Year 8 Home: Covid, so definitely scaled back. It was also the first time the twins wanted separate parties, so the girls went to the zoo, and the boys had a Harry Potter party at home.

Year 9 Home: Covid, again, so scaled back again. And since we were still wearing masks and the weather report was iffy, we didn’t officially have a party. But unofficially, we hosted the neighborhood kids in an impromptu Unbirthday Party inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

Year 10 Home: We created our own Escape/Breakout/Lock Box Adventure. It miraculously worked and took a dozen or so kids more than an hour to complete.

Year 10 Away: Double Digit Trip to Europe: Ten cities for ten years — it was a year to go big because the pandemic was over, and they were entering their next decade. But the trip — it was a dream! It was their first visit to every city (and three countries).

Year 11 Home: Last year, we rode the light rail to Coors Field and hosted their friends at a Harry Potter baseball game. It was ridiculous to keep track of all the kids, and how much food they ate was shocking, but we had a ball!

Milestones as Markers of Growth

At 12, they’re not quite teenagers but no longer little kids. Every birthday is a chance to pause, celebrate how much they’ve grown, and envision the future. Whether hitting double digits or transitioning to adulthood, these moments shape our family’s narrative and connect us to something bigger.

The Power of Traditions

As a veteran event and party planner, I’ve spent years making events memorable. During my 13 years at HBO, I hosted sales retreats, incentive trips, screenings, and “Nights-On-The-Town” across the US, so I know what makes an event extraordinary. But I’m also a cheapskate. I don’t believe in overspending on disposable items or unappreciated details.

But it’s not really about the budget, is it? You’d be surprised how effectively I can manage money — ask the PTCO. We’ve pulled off the annual Snow Ball (our signature winter dance) for about $5 per person, and it still felt luxe.

It’s about the moment: sharing an experience with people you love, celebrating the beauty of life, and, at a deeper level, building a sense of belonging and identity.

In a hectic world, birthday traditions disrupt the unconsciousness of everyday life and create a rhythm and intentionality that everyone looks forward to, especially because they so effectively capture a moment in time.

Each year, we create a theme that connects to something they love, a way to show them that their passions and personalities matter. These celebrations are more than just parties; they are core memories.

Traditions like these bring comfort and joy, solidarity and anticipation, reminding us of what matters most: family and love.

Celebrations as Connection

Whether big or small, celebrations help families connect, reconnect, and strengthen bonds. While planning my grandfather’s 90th birthday party, researching history, and sifting through 90 years of memories to create a trivia game, I couldn’t get over how much living fits into a lifetime!

It reinforced a sense of legacy and fatefulness and showcased the dichotomy of life — so many choices, decisions, and roads to take, all a mix of good and bad.

Watching the “oldsters” go back in time was something special. They got that gleam in their eyes and were lost in the reverie. I can only hope that our children are still being honored at 90 and beyond.

In my coaching practice, I emphasize celebrating as an essential part of gratitude and mindfulness. Even small wins or baby steps forward are worthy reminders of life’s growth, joy, and beauty.

Life moves fast, and uncertainty is always part of the equation. There will never be the perfect time to celebrate, but don’t wait. You aren’t too late, too early, too young, too old, behind, or ahead. It’s not a race. It’s your life — and how you experience it is your call.

Honoring your experiences and timelines and sharing them with the people you love creates lasting memories and fosters a sense of unity, purpose, and peace.

Homework

Think about your favorite family traditions or a milestone you’ve celebrated recently. If none come to mind, consider something you’re looking forward to that could become a ritual.

It doesn’t have to be a holiday or event. My husband blocks off a few Saturdays every college football season for the best games — one of his favorite rituals he can’t wait for each year.

Then, take a moment to reflect on its deeper meaning:

1. What does the tradition or milestone represent for you?
2. What feelings or values does it highlight?
3. Why is it important to keep it going?

These memories and the emotions they evoke often reveal profound cornerstone beliefs, making them excellent starting points for prioritizing time, energy, and attention.

If you’d like to explore how you can bring more intention to your celebrations or milestones, I’d love to help. Feel free to share this blog post with a friend who could use some inspiration.

And one last thing: I’m currently planning my 50th. If you’d like to follow along or peek behind the scenes to learn insider tips and apply expert recommendations in your own life, consider joining Journey , my six-week transformative travel coaching program.

Through this experience, I’ll guide you in planning a dream trip, celebrating a milestone, or marking a meaningful moment in your life.

Together, we’ll use that energy and some essential coaching exercises, including my proprietary MVP2 framework, to take your experience to the next level and make important mindset leaps that change how you see yourself. It’s designed to help you live more authentically, find fulfillment, and ultimately see your life as the incredible adventure it is — in six weeks.