We live in S. Texas - his birthday is in February and you can see the short sleeves and shorts. I'm not sure if she had a backup plan - there'd been an ice storm two weeks earlier and there can always be rain, but ... this time it worked.
I'm also trying to keep to a tradition of having "adventures" instead of giving big gifts. Don't know how long it will last, but for #3 we went to Build a Bear. I took lots of pictures and made them into a little book for him. We made the monkey the week before his birthday then gave it to him at the party. I'm thinking fishing trips, etc for future birthdays. I know this may not work as well when they get older, but am hoping that "your birthday adventure will be next weekend" or whatever will just be what we do together.
The monkey was less than $40 - got an online coupon before we went. That's cash, but not what I hear others spending on their precious ones.