Five...

13 days after Ava's birthday, Miss Hannah made her debut which meant we didn't get to post about Ava's party.  Let me start by saying it was INSANE!  Everyone had a great time and I didn't have to do much of anything, but I think the fact that I wasn't in control made it feel that much more crazy.  Or maybe it was the fact we were at a place where the kids could safely run around by themselves and so we had 11 kids going in different directions.

Ava was born on a holiday weekend, and so we always have to plan her party for the week before or week after. This year we planned her party for the 25th of August at Fun Fore All and invited 10 of her close friends.  Fun Fore All is a local kids play place that has an indoor ball area, arcade games, outdoor rides (think carnival/boardwalk), and putt putt.  Almost everything was taken care of, but we decided to do the invites, cake, and thank yous ourselves.  (Fun Fore All actually gives you generic invites and thank yous if you want them.)  Because Ava wanted a Rio theme I wanted to incorporate that into everything I could.  (Read Crafter for more of what I tried to do.)

Here are several pictures from the party, and a few of Ava opening presents from us.  At Fun Fore All, our birthday package included two kid rides, and we let Ava pick which rides everyone would go on together.  The first was the train, which is a little like a roller coaster, and the second was a large swing.  We only had one little on who was terrified of both, everyone else has a blast.

Once back inside after after everyone ate dinner, Ava got a turn at the birthday wheel.  After two chances at spinning the wheel, trying to land in a red space, I realized we had one very sweet host who then gave Ava as many chances as she needed until it happened.  I'm thinking she had to spin 6 times. The prize was 200 extra tickets (think arcade or Chuck E. Cheese.)

We then had some free time in the arcade.  Ava loves driving games, and from the way she drives, we're glad she has 11 more years before she is able to drive!  Also, my little tom boy is turning into a girly girl (thanks for her girly girl friends.)  Check out that skirt and PINK hair bow!

We also had a pinata, the pull-string kind.  I have no idea how many kids were able to try, and unfortunately I only got this picture...

As I said before, I wanted to get the cake instead of getting a generic cake from Fun Fore All.  As I have done each year, I ordered the cake from Walmart.  We love their icing, and cup cake cakes are so much easier.  I had stopped by the bakery a good month in advance to look at options so when the time came to order I would know what I wanted.  I had ordered the Rio toys on EBay, they were old McDonald's toys from a few years ago, unopened of course.  And thankfully, we had a wonderful girl that decorated the cake exactly the way we wanted and the toys fit with it perfectly.

We are two months late, but...

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY

 AVA REESE!!!