Karys's 5th Birthday

I cannot believe that I have been a mom for a whole 5 years now! Karys is such a fun girl and she almost always has a bright smile on her face. This year she's even getting ready for kindergarten!

We had planned originally to do her birthday party at the splash pad here in town but after we did Zane's half-birthday party at our house she decided she wanted to her party here at the house too. It actually works really well for us too because it means we don't have to pack anything up and take it anywhere else!

She has decided lately that Daisy Duck is her favorite and she wanted a Daisy Duck birthday party. Well in case you haven't noticed, Daisy Duck is not really a main character in Mickey Mouse so it's hard to find her by herself. However, she and Minnie Mouse have teamed up for Minnie Mouse Bow-Tique so you can at least find them together! We were able to find plates at Walmart (yeah, for no expensive party supply store!) and then I just made the party theme with lots of purple since Daisy wears purple.

I also thought that since she was 5 it would be fun to play a game at the party since she and most of her friends are older so they could follow rules and everything. After a short online search I decided it would be fun to do a "Prize Walk." Basically it's like a Cake Walk but instead of winning a cake you win prizes. I was on the ball for this party (I kind of ended up throwing Zane's party together last minute) so a few weeks before the party the kids and I scoured the Dollar Tree for appropriate girl and boy prizes. We tried to get Minnie/Daisy and Mickey prizes wherever possible...and there were a lot! On the party day I drew a big circle on the carport with purple sidewalk chalk and made numbered spaces. However, I was not thinking about the fact that the kids would've been playing in the water before this and all of my chalk was going to disappear! Oh well, we winged it a bit and they had a good time. :)

I was going to create a birthday banner, but I ended up just taping each individual piece to the wall. :)

Friends eating together. We got this kids picnic table after Zane's party had already happened...it sure is perfect for friends to sit at together!

Cupcakes. Fitting with our Daisy Duck "purple" theme.

Opening presents. These sweet friends sat there and watched her open every single one. The other kids fizzled out quickly. :) Karys had told Zane she wanted him to be her present helper. He was probably one of the first to leave to get back in the pool! :)

Happy birthday, Karys! You're a whole hand now! Thanks, friends, for enduring two parties so close together for us! :)

Zane's 2 1/2 Birthday Party

Poor Zane. He was born a mere three days after Christmas which means that his birthday and Christmas are practically the same thing. This year for his two year old party I was planning to do it on New Year's Eve since I figured most of our friends that travel out of town would be back. I wanted an outdoor party because our house just doesn't accomodate many and plus the kids had gotten some really great outdoor stuff for Christmas. Then it decided to rain. I kept thinking I would reschedule it and then I just kept forgetting! I told Ryan that I guess we just wouldn't do a party for him this year and then he suggested that we start the 1/2 birthday party. So on his actual birthday we will do a family party and then he can have a party with his friends for his half birthday.

He wanted a "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" theme. Of course the only place I could find plates, etc. with Jake on them would have to be the most expensive party store in town!! ($4 for 8 plates is ridiculous!!) But oh well. Since it's summertime we had just gotten a really big blow up pool so we had that set up, plus the kids could just play in the yard.

He had a fun time and Karys enjoyed being his "present helper." (This is the person that brings you your presents to open at your party. :)

Here's Zane next to his cake. I went to Walmart for this cake and they did have a Jake design but didn't have the plastic pieces that were supposed to go with it. I found the figurines in the toy section at Walmart so I bought those and they made the cake to go with it. Very cute, I thought! :)

A post-cake picture. :)

 

Anticipating opening presents.

 

Karys acting as "present helper." :)

When you're 2 1/2 you no longer need help getting presents open! :) And this picture is hilarious because he was given the bat/ball as a present and someone tried to take it and hold it so this is how he decided to keep it safe. :)

Thank you, friends, for coming out and helping Zane have a fun half-birthday! :)