DS has 4-5 "birthday parties" a year: one is around his birthday. The rest is just an excuse to have a few friends around, play games and eat "candle cake".

Birthday parties don't have to be that expensive: all DS wants is some picnic food/BBQ food and a cake. It's more a social thing. I'll be doing park parties when he wants more than 3-4 friends round. Family isn't so much of an issue as everyone is supposed technically an adult (yes, that is supposed to include me), bar 2 of Liebling's cousins.