Caroline's Birthday! ~4~

I took several pictures of Caroline on July 10, her actual birthday.

She was so excited it was her birthday!  For days after, and sometimes even still, she shyly tells people, "I'm four now..."

Four little fingers!

We had a party on July 13 for Caroline while we were in WA.  That day, I blew up lots and lots of balloons.  The kids wanted to help, and blew up balloons.  Brian blew up lots too!  We blew up the whole package--over 100 balloons, I think.  Maybe 140???

 Austin already knew how to tie knots in balloons.  Julia learned this day.  I told the kids if they wanted to help, they had to tie their own knots. ;)  And they did!

While shopping at Costco, we'd pass the tables of clothes, seeing what was new, on the way to buy groceries.  During several trips, Caroline noticed tables piled with these tutu dresses.  Every time she'd tell me, "I wrote that dress on my birthday list."  The funny thing is, she never even had a birthday list!  Sometimes the kids and I talk about writing down things they want on their Christmas lists, so that must be where Caroline got the idea.  On the day of her party I gave her the dress.  She loved it!  And she knew that was the dress she "wrote" on her birthday list.  :D

 Caroline wanted a princess party and a princess cake.

I decided just to order one from Safeway, instead of making one.  I am so glad I did!  There was plenty of other things going on that day--one less thing to worry about.  Caroline plays with the princess figurines at home, now.  The middle dark pink flower is actually a white ring that changes to dark pink in the sun!

Caroline and Lauren wanted to wear their princess dresses to the party, so we packed them in our luggage!  My mom asked us if Caroline's princess dress was a real dress, or a play dress up dress.  Caroline piped up, kind of irritated, "No!  It's a real dress!"

I thought she might want to change out of the Rapunzel dress into her tutu dress during the party, but she kept it on the whole night!  Her cousins wore their princess dresses too.  Annaliese's came off pretty fast.  Here Caroline is watching my mom play Angry Birds.  Ha!  She knows how to play it too, and likes to play on Brian's phone!

Marty and Colleen let us have the party at their house.  After dinner, the kids went on a scavenger hunt. 

Julia did a lot of work for this party!  She sewed all the goody/hunt bags.  She made up all the clues.  She and Colleen put up balloons and hid all the hunt treasures around the house and yard.

 The kids who could read took turns reading the clues.

Short-haired Rapunzel toting her bag over her shoulder during the hunt.

 The next activity was a balloon relay!  Marty organized the teams:  older kids on one team, younger kids on the other.  The kids had to run across the yard with balloons (2 for the older kids, 1 for the younger) and sit on their balloons to pop them, then run back so the next teammate could go.  Annika didn't want to play.  Lauren heard a few "pops" and ran off crying.  Then she came back and ran w/ the balloon, but had me pop it!  Caroline had a hard time sitting on her balloon--too light--so I would help her buy stepping on it.  At the end, Marty had the kids race to see who could pick up the most balloon trash!  Ha ha!  The yard was cleaned up fast!

 Isn't the pinata cute?!  WalMart had a bunch of these, and other cute designs.

Lauren was mad we bought this one (said it wouldn't hold much candy!!). But Julia and I stuffed it full!

Uncle Scott and Uncle Doug were good sports and held the pole for the pinata.  That could potentially be a dangerous job!!  The big kids made some big hits!

My grandma Arlene came to the party and said it was fun watching the kids.  It was.  :)

Alyssa ended up breaking the pinata.

Playing with Granpa while the other kids hit the pinata (all the kids had several turns).

Mad dash for the candy!

Aunty Colleen  and Julia set up this princess "throne" for Caroline.  She sat there to open her presents.  They found this Rapunzel headband/wig for her at the dollar store.  Most of the kids took turns trying it on.  Funny!  Especially on Austin and Baby Aliana.

Brian took this with his phone.

Caroline got lots of fun presents!  What a lucky little girl!

At home in CA, a couple weeks before our trip, Lauren told me she was going to give Caroline a present.  Lauren said she was going to make up a song and sing it for everyone at Caroline's party.  She'd go in my bedroom and practice.

At the party, after all the other gifts were opened, it was time for Lauren's gift.  She was feeling a little shy, but she did indeed sing a song for everyone.  I don't know how much of it was what she practiced back at home in CA, as much of it seemed to come into her mind as she sang!

Marty put on music after Lauren's show, and the kids got right to dancing. They all put on a show! LOL Lauren was so pleased with this and said her song started the whole dance party. ;)

Brian took some fun phone videos.  Thought I might as well try to upload them.  We'll see what happens!

 

While the kids danced around the living room, I got the cake ready to go.  These little girls waited very patiently while the dinner remains were cleared and the cake plates and things were set up.

Time to sing Happy Birthday to Caroline!  I guess Austin didn't want to be in the picture?!

Four candles for our sweet girl.  She blew them all out, then we ate cake.  Caroline chose chocolate cake with chocolate filling.  Can you tell what she likes?!  Everyone stayed late to visit.  It was a fun party.