Our Backyard Carnival Birthday Party!

For Lance's birthday party, we invited all of his friends to a "backyard carnival" at our house! Lance invited all the kids in his kindergarten class, his soccer teammates, some of his t-ball friends, several of the kids he went to preschool with in Melbourne, and other family and friends.

We had a tent and ticket booth to welcome everyone to the carnival. Lance passed out tickets to all of the kids. We had face painting, ski ball, pick up ducks, knock over the milk bottles, ring toss, and bean bag toss for games. We had a cut-out for kids to have their carnival picture taken. We also had potato sack races.

Mom was in charge of the cotton candy machine. Scott, Dad, and Reggie (t-ball coach) took care of the popcorn, corn dogs, cupcakes, and drinks. We had a table full of candy and prizes for the kids to win when they cashed in their tickets.

The big surprise . . . and Lance's birthday gift from us . . . was the bounce house with slide. He had played on it before and LOVED it! I just felt that he already had too much "stuff". I knew if you asked him a week later what he got for his birthday he probably wouldn't be able to tell you. I felt certain that he would NEVER FORGET this party and the bounce house. I was right . . . his eyes lit up and his chin dropped when he saw the bounce house blowing up. It was the "hit" of the party.

We gave out balloons, cotton candy, and boxes for the kids to put all of their prizes in. The kids were so busy the entire time playing games, bouncing in the house, playing on the playset, and eating! Scott's niece, Sara, and her friend did our face painting. Lance requested that I get a shooting star painted on my cheek. We all had a blast. Scott and Reggie raced each other in a potato sack race. It was hilarious!!! Ms. Mandi (Lance's Preschool teacher) and I got in the bounce house with Lance and Paige at the end of the party. Mom was covered with cotton candy - we even had it on the roof! It will definitely be a party we will never forget. Lance's friends have already told him that when he turns 7 he has to have another carnival party! We will see . . . who knows what crazy thing I will come up with next!!! I love planning these things. What I love even more is seeing Lance have so much fun!!! I still can't believe my "baby" is 6 years old!