Happy (Late) Birthday, Jessi!

For Jessi's 5th birthday, we gave in and finally threw a party for her friends. And we had a great time. We decided to have a "Big Backyard Carnival", and here are several photo highlights from the event.

Here is Jessi posing with her birthday cake. When I asked her what kind of cake she wanted me to make, she said "Can't you just go buy one from the store?" She has had her eye on this frosting fest of a cake at the Macey's bakery since we started shopping there about 6 months ago. The "ice cream cones"? Pure frosting--eeeew! There it is, against all my better judgment.

Sean, the cotton candy man! What's a carnival without cotton candy?

Some of the backyard games--ring toss, putting, and the hula hoop throw--and thanks to Ali, Davis, and their friends for helping man the stations.

Here is Jessi opening her presents. She was having so much fun at the carnival, we had to force her to stop and open the presents before it was time for people to leave. Her favorite way of saying "thank you" when she liked a present was to "faint". Here are just a few photo highlights from her many unusual thank yous.

Here's a thanks in progress:

And another thanks:

And finally a hug:

Thanks, Marianne for bringing your bouncer. I think it was the hit of the party!

The party wound down with some cupcakes.

Oh, and if anyone needs Sean, he's still making cotton candy. We now have a "cotton candy" section in our year's supply.