While businesses remain closed, some Coastal Bend parents aren’t letting that stop them from throwing birthday parties for their kids.
“I felt kind of weird, hahah,” said 7- year-old Elana Reyes.
Her party this year is a marked contrast from last year.
“Originally we had a big party planned at a jumpy place, and we were gonna do a big party with her sister and we were gonna invite her whole class and all of our family and friends,” her mother, Yvette Reyes said.
But as the spread of the coronavirus continued and orders to stay at hme went into effect, Yvette Reyes says she became nervous her original plans wouldn’t work out.
“Oh no, I don’t know what I'm gonna do for Elana’s birthday. It's already tomorrow.”
Until her friends who are also parents suggested they have a drive-by birthday parade
“We had set up the little pool in the front yard for her and all of sudden you hear all of this honking," her mother said.
The noise set off quite a commotion in the neighborhood.
“Screaming and all these cars with streamers and balloons, and all the neighbors came out and it was really super special and Elana was very surprised," Yvette said. “I think It was all about her still making her feel really special and loved.”
Now Reyes says all of Elana’s friends have expressed they want a birthday parade this year. too.
“Very amazing," she said. "Mom, friends that come through like that for our children they were so emotional about it they were crying in their own cars.
“ It was really a memory I don’t think she’ll ever forget."