Autumns 5th Birthday Party

Back on May 12th, we celebrated Autumn turning 5. That was a busy weekend! Autumn has always had family parties, so this was a new experience for all of us to have friends from school and church come. She got to pick who was invited, which even included some of her brothers friends. But I am glad we went with a friends party. None of Drews family made it to her party- so all her little friends filled that void! It also made us grateful that my Mom, my sister, her husband and 2 kids were able to come and help us celebrate.

I didn't realize how stressful parties were, now i know why all the other kids in Autumn's preschool class had parties elsewhere at like Chuck E. Cheese or gymnastic studios. But turning 5 is big in my book so I loved doing this for her. We kept it fairly simple, I made cupcakes and rice crispy treats, had a cooler full of Capri Sun and water bottles, and rented a bounce house.

Here's the treat table:

 I loved the centerpiece. I used an old gold frame and painted it, and added scrapbook paper behind the glass, then with vinyl added Happy Birthday, glued on a painted clothes pin, and attached a recent picture of her holding up her hand showing she's 5. I can use this for all my kids birthdays. :)

 We set up a canopy to provide shade for the food/people. I really didn't think about the temperature when I set the time of the party to be from 1-3. It really wasn't bad, but shade makes all the difference. It was 95 degrees that day, and some of the icing melted off my cupcakes. :)

We had so much fun getting ready for it. She talked about this party for so long, and to her it probably felt like it was never going to come. The bounce house rental company actually came out on Fri. night to set it up, so we got a lot of use out of it.

The kids played in the bounce house, and on our swing set/slide for about 45 min. then we sang to Autumn.

It was a mad rush to those cupcakes as soon as she blew out the candle.

My mom enjoying her cupcake.

Autumn in the bounce house...love her shirt. She wore it to school on her birthday day as well. A mom from her class, knowing I am crafty, asked if I had made it. I wish I had talent to make shirts. :)

Then we opened presents. She was truely very spoiled by everyone. We couldn't believe all the amazing gifts she recieved. I set up a small table for gifts and as people came or dropped off gifts we had to put them on Drews grill as well. She loved everything she got, and what surprised me was she didn't get anything she already owned. Notice that most of the guests were boys? The moms all said how much fun they had buying girly stuff since they never get to. They did great.

I am in love with this picture. This is Autumn's cousin Parker. They're a year apart and little buddies. She was very grateful for the swim suit that she got from them. She can't wait to wear it to swim lessons.

My handome nephew Ben was there too.

Autumn and Grandma.

Once presents were opened the party was pretty much over. So I was finally able to sit. I love this girl and can't believe she is 5. 5 is a big deal at our home- a big party, this summer she gets to take swim lessons and dance lessons, Kindergarten in the fall, and she has started recieving a allowance.

My little man, he was such a trooper, he's so used to doing what Autumn does and doesn't always realize that he's almost 2 years younger than her. It was nice for him to get to see that this was Autumns day and see her celebrated on her own.

Thanks to my sister for climbing in the bounce house to get action shots from inside. I am glad after the presents were opened that people hung around to enjoy it. I am also hoping that it wore the kids out enough to give their parents a break that afternoon. :)

Where was Bailey? She slept through the whole thing. It was nice not having to worry about her climbing in the bounce house with all the kids, or having her forgotten because I was busy with other stuff. It worked out perfectly.

This was my most favorite part of the whole party set up. I wrote on a piece of paper "thank you for coming" and asked Autumn to write it onto pink cardstock. She can read and when she got to "for" she decided it would be easier to just draw the number four, which she did backwards. Totally adds personality and I love it.

I had boy themed grab bags and girly ones. I wanted this party to be as gender nuetral as possible, most of who we invited were boys, but it was a girl party and I think we pulled it off.

Thanks to all of those who helped celebrate Autumn turning 5. It felt like the celebration lasted weeks afterwards, and she is still enjoying all the gifts she recieved. She loves telling people she is 5. And I can't believe my oldest is 5! Hoping 5 treats us just as good, if not better than 4. :)