I love birthdays
I get them birthday balloons that announce the birthday to everyone at daycare, they get to wear the special birthday crown (I have a 'boy' and 'girl' one, they get to choose), cupcakes of their flavor choice, we play a party game of their choice (usually musical chairs, they love that one), a birthday photo with the crown and a hard cover book autographed by me, lol.
We have such fun as a group doing it and the kids feel so special~they talk about their 'birthday party' for weeks after
I don't care if their parents appreciate it or not (though mine do) I do it for me and for the birthday girl/boy.