Cole's fifth birthday was a great one!  He had his first ever kid party on Friday afternoon which was a huge success despite the fact that three of the invited boys could not come due to high fevers.  This may have helped to make the party run smoothly as 8 little boys might have been a little too crazy for our not-so-big house!  After the party Cole's friend, Tate, stayed for a while to help Cole try out his new toys.  Cole went to bed a happy boy . . .  On Saturday (his actual birthday) we woke him up with singing "Happy Birthday" and sent him on a treasure hunt to find his first gift (a small-size guitar).  He followed that up with opening from his sister, having a big french toast breakfast and trying out his new "shaving kit" (his gift from Maisie).  Next his Aunt Heather, Uncle Terry and cousins Luke and Taylor stopped by with gifts.  At lunch time, my parents and sister came over and we partied down with more gifts and cupcakes.  That afternoon cousin Luke came back over for lots of playing and stayed for Cole's birthday dinner which was followed by more gift opening.  To Cole's delight the day ended with Luke staying the night.  Here are pictures of all the events . . .

Here are the kids at the party . . .


Here they are playing Hot Potato!


Here they are in their party hats that we made . . .


I like this shot of Henry just watching the "big kids" . . .


As you can see . . . Pin the Tail on the Donkey was a success   . . .


A shot of just the boys . . .


Cole opening presents . . .


Jordan (on the left) and Kabb (on the right) waiting with their gifts while Cole opens presents . . .


Tate . . .


Maisie and Henry at the party . . .


Here is Cole trying out his new guitar for the first time after completing his treasure hunt first thing Sat. morning (notice Maisie is wearing a balarena outfit -- she was so excited for Cole's birthday . . . she felt a *special* outfit was necessary).






Cole LOVED his gift from Maisie (a toy shaving kit!) . . . here he is trying it out  . . . (I didn't notice until after I took the photos that Josh is half-naked in them . . . he was shaving too, to show Cole how to do it, and had taken off his shirt to avoid getting it wet in the process.)



Here is Cole blowing out his candles at his birthday lunch with My Mom and Dad and sister, Deirdre.  He is wearing part of a Pirate dress-up costume from my parents . . .


Here is Cole showing off his new bow and arrow to my parents (that he got from Tate at his kid party). . .


Here is Cole at his his birthday lunch on the phone with Aunt Corinna (he got lots of Happy Birthday phone calls!) and a photo of Deirdre and Henry . . .


Here are a couple of shots of Cousin Luke trying out the guitar when he came over to play in the afternoon . . .


Birthday Dinner . . . Cole requested pasta, broccoli and "dipping bread" . . . so for the pasta I made an Allen birthday tradition of Beef Stroganoff (it was always my dad's request on his birthday).  The "special" dip that Cole loves is olive oil, balsamic vinegar and chopped (not pressed) garlic.  We also had a special drink/punch (see bowl with ladle) made up of sprite, hawaiian punch and rainbow sherbet.  Yum!



Silly boys!


A foot on the table?!  Who taught this baby his manners?


After dinner Cole opened some more gifts.  Here he is trying out his new set of pens . . .


And right before bed he shows off his new head lamp . . . perfect for looking at books in bed (or camping!) . . . on the right is Cole the next morning (Sunday) back in part of his Pirate Costume.  Fun Weekend!