Birthday Party!

Yesterday the kids had their big joint party, celebrating turning three and five.  My parents and my sister were in town to party with us and so was Uncle Travis.

This was the first year that Beatrice picked her own party theme and she picked "under the sea."

We sent out invitations as letters in a bottle.

For desserts I made starfish cookies (Beatrice's special request), cups of blue Jello with gummy lobsters, and a sand castle cake.

 

  

 

We had plastic sand pails and shovels for party favors.

 



And a lot of nautical and sea-themed decorations like life preservers, rope vases and bottles, fishing nets, blue glass, jars of sand and water, starfish, sand dollars, and all the shells I saved from the last few months' worth of dinners. 

 

 

For the little kids we also set up a little wading pool under a shade canopy with some plastic sea life and beach balls.

"Baby Bay"

 

But the biggest hit by far was the water slide we rented, which was in non-stop use from 11am-6pm.  I was a little worried that the giant slide wouldn't even fit in our yard (and our very kind next-door neighbors volunteered to host it in their much larger yard) but it fit! With (a little) room to spare!

Beatrice on the slide

And Arthur

Some of the adults tried it, too.

 

 

All in all, I'd say it was our best birthday party yet.

 

As much as she loved the waterslide, B also took time out of the middle of the party to draw.

 

Rory lifts Arthur up to blow out his candles