he's 5!

Last weekend we celebrated Aiden's 5th birthday! He was pretty excited to be turning 5. Originally the forecast called for beautiful warm weather on Aiden's birthday, but all that changed. It was rainy and cold! So we moved his carnival birthday party into the garage. Thank goodness for amazing neighbors who cleaned it up for us and helped me set up all the games. We didn't have many kids come (just 3 in addition to my kids) but trust me- that was plenty!

We played Go Fish.

There were foam fish in 3 different colors that had paper clips on them to help them stick to the magnet fishing pole. The color of the fish you catch determines your prize.

Tin Can Throw.

Knock the cups/tin cans down with a ball- get a prize.

Bean Bag Toss.

Toss a bean bag in the clowns mouth- get a prize.

(Emma picking her prize.)

They colored bags to put their prizes in.

And then of course there was the activity I was most excited about...

face painting!

I painted a butterfly.

a green kitty

a tiger

a dragon

and even a basketball going into the hoop for Hillary!

Aren't those tiny paint sets the cutest!?

I gave them out as one of the prizes.

Twisty straws were another big hit with the kids.

While the kids did games, Kart and my sister Natalie prepped the food for us.

Kart took on grill duty cooking hot dogs, and Natalie made a mountain of fruit kabobs and cooked the corndogs. I really appreciated their help!

After games we came into eat and sat all the kids on the floor. It was just easier that way.

I think the food was loved by all. I forgot how much I love corn dogs!

Here's the cake with the bunting I made for the topper.

I like how it turned out.

It matched the big ones I made for decorating the house.

Yummy yummy fruit kabobs!

"...Happy birthday to Aiden happy birthday to you!"

Aiden was so excited to eat his cake.

He asked for strawberry cake, so I found this recipe and added lemon cream cheese frosting.

It was delicious and SUPER moist.

The banner I made.

I just thought this picture of Owen was funny. :)

My lovely sister Natalie who will have even shorter hair tomorrow!

Cleaning up his face after cake.

Time for gifts!

I love his face in this picture! haha. He loved his new guns, and the handcuffs it came with.

A neat timer that drips colors. (hard to explain, but cool!)

He was very excited to get MegaMind!

The guns were very popular.

The whole Barnett family!

The traditional number tshirt that I make.

He's looking so grown up! I can't stand it.

I'm still in awe that he'll be in Kindergarten this year. It's so weird for me. I'm excited for him, but nervous to send him off into the world of public school and kids I don't know. It's a little scary, but I'm just going to have to do my best to teach him right and wrong and pray he makes good choices and is a good example to others. He is a good boy and I sure love him a lot!

Happy Birthday Aiden!

*I'd like to mention that almost everyone of these pictures were taken by my friend Anna (which is why she's in none of them). I knew I wouldn't have time to take pictures myself so I asked her if I could trade photography with her. I'll shoot her son's birthday if she shoots Aiden's. I'm glad I asked her to because she did a great job and it allowed me to actually be in the pictures and not be stressed out about taking pictures and running the party. Thanks Anna!!