Claire's 5th Birthday Party

We had a really fun birthday party for Claire this year.

We used to always have parties at Blake's parents' home since it had so much more room for people, food, and parking.  This year we decided since we were paying rent for our rental home a month before we moved in we might as well use the space for the party.  We had literally moved nothing in but a few lonely boxes and wall prints.  We used folding tables and camping chairs for furniture.  I don't think the little girls minded.  Thanks go to my mom for letting us borrow most of these!

And this was the first year that she really had a say in her birthday arrangements.

Choice #1: no boys.  I really tried to talk her out of this one because we have so many close friends with sons, and even boys that are her personal friends. But for whatever reason, day after day, every time I brought it up she would think silently about the question and come up with the same answer.  No boys.  She never would offer an explanation, though...

Choice #2: jungle party.  I gave her a party catalog for her to get ideas from.  I really wanted her to have a princess party and have my brother and a friend dress up like a prince & princess to "host" it.  She chose a jungle party because she really wanted inflatable jungle animals (you'll see these scattered through the pictures).  It ended up working out.  The party was scheduled for St. Patrick's day so the green worked in well.  We used green streamers all over the room hanging down loosely and randomly to resemble jungle vines from the ceiling.  We tried to wear green clothes for the holiday & the jungle.

Choice #3: St. Patty's Day cupcakes.  I opted to buy cupcakes for ease of baking (tax season crazy time) and serving/clean up (empty kitchen in the new house) but comforted myself by saying I'd let her choose what she wanted.  The grocery store had a big display of St. Patrick's Day cupcakes as you walk in the door.  I convinced her to still look at the other cupcakes in the store but we still ended up with leprechaun and clover green cupcakes.

 

We had a bounce house in the garage due to the rain (and big thanks to the Coyle's for letting us use it!), jungle animal games, hawaiian pizza (Claire's favorite), presents & cupcakes.  And then more jumping, of course.

Here are more photo highlights:

The most exciting present was a new pet Beta fish.  We now have a family pet.  And it's still alive.

Claire really wanted a bike for her 5th birthday.  Since we knew we'd be in a house soon she got a new-to-us purple princess bike!  Thanks, Blake, for coordinating and cleaning it up to look like new!  Now she has to learn to ride it...