A Birthday Carnival

Today was Bella's birthday party. So we had a carnival for her and all her little friends! I think that all the kids had fun. I KNOW that Isabella had fun. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Bella awaiting the party to begin.

Isabella getting her face painted before the party.
(The other kids could get their faces painted as a part of the party. There were puppies, tigers, wolves and butterflies roaming our party today.)

And also roaming the party was Mommy the clown!
(You can't see it in the picture but I am really wearing a clown costume, and if you couldn't tell, that's not my hair!)

At the beginning of the party as guests were arriving they made necklaces with yarn and fruit loops. Natalie just sat back and had a little snack - who cares about the yarn?

After the majority of the guests arrived the kids started going around to all the games. We had a cake walk,

bean bag toss,

fishing pond, (getting her catch)

and a pin the tail on the donkey game.

We sang a few songs and read a book called Happy Birthday to You by Dr. Sues. (Way too long for this age group, or maybe any in a big setting like this)
The above picture is of Natalie and Nana observing the fun.

And of course there were presents, presents, and more presents. After all that praying she got her Dora House! (Tonight in her prayers she started to say, "Thank you that I get my...." and then she got the giggles and moved on. But I think it was good of her to think to thank Heavenly Father for it since she'd been praying for it.)

Then it was time for the big moment, blowing out the candle!

Bella had lots of fun!
This is Lacey and Bella, Lacey made Bella the cool wand she is holding to go with her outfit.

The hardest part about having the party away from home (we rented a rec room) was the fact that she couldn't completely open her presents right away. She couldn't wait to get home to get into them. She got so many gifts that I told her we'd have to wait until tomorrow to do some of them. I've actually put a few up for a rainy day activity and opened the rest so when she wakes up on her actual birthday she'll have lots of fun things waiting for her.

And of course, I had to include her in her Ariel dress with the tail. In November she told my mom that this was what she wanted for her birthday. So my mom bought it for her and tucked it away for a month. Since that time she's said she wanted EVERY other princess dress but this one. My mom was panicking. But, just like I told her, when she opened the gift it became just what she wanted and she hasn't mentioned the other dresses all day.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures! We wish all of you could have been with us for our party!
Stay tuned for one more birthday weekend post tomorrow!

~jen