Time for a BIRTHDAY PARTY!

On Saturday, January 11th, we had a big BEACH birthday party bash for Madeline's 6th birthday!!

We spent the morning finishing the party preparations, which included frosting the birthday cupcakes.  Mads was able to lick the beater!  She said the frosting was "good, but could be better."  So after a few tweaks, the frosting was Mads-approved.  :)

We had our cupcake toppers ready to go...

 We set out the food.  We had a yummy lunch of Shredded BBQ Chicken sandwiches, Seashore Beans, the "Take a Dip" station with chips and dips and veggies and dip, and Beach Ball Fruit.  (Can you see the resemblance of a beach ball in the colors of the fruit?)

 We also had Pool Water to drink!

Since we're lacking in living room furniture until we're done moving, we made it into the beach and we had lunch on beach towels!  :)  The towel in the middle had dolphins on it, so that was our ocean!

 We encouraged our guests to wear flip flops and shades.  Uncle Jakey and Nate even wore shorts!  Mads had sweet birthday flip flops on!

 Lily even spiffed up with a nice purple lei!

 During lunch Nate took a break to show Michael how to do the "Tushie Dance!"

  Cute kids enjoying lunch!  Nate drinking some Pool Water:

 Cousin Gavin:

 Cousin Olivia:

 The Birthday Beach Babe!

 And her hambone brother! 

 While Mads was opening presents we enjoyed a snack bar:

How fun are these?!

Beach Balls (Gumballs)

 Life Preservers (Lifesavers)

Pool Noodles (Twizzlers - check out those sweet colors!)

Nate helped Mads open a few presents:

 And then he let her enjoy her birthday presents by opening them herself:

 A sweet and shiny purse!

 Nate tried out the brush that came in the purse:

 A gift certificate for lunch with Grandma and Grandpa!

 Play Doh fun!

 Reading her card from Gramma - she even got the word "compassion" right!  :)

 More crafts!

 and a Barbie closet!

 A new stamp set!

Mads sure was spoiled!  

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Next up were the Birthday Cupcakes!  We had teddy bears in umbrella topped life preservers floating in the pool!  

Look at these cuties!

AH!  CRAZY BIRTHDAY GIRL!  (And she didn't even have a cupcake yet!)

 She's SIX!!!!  (Two hands!)

 Happy Birthday To You!

Singing Happy Birthday:

 Making a wish and blowing out the candles!

  She was a nice hostess and passed out the cupcakes and ice cream!

 Nate and his cousins enjoying some cupcakes:

 After cupcakes it was play time!  Grandpa Jeff found the new glitter crayons and coloring book!  :)

Mads had a fantastic birthday party!  Now on to her actual birthday tomorrow!  :)