birthday party

we did another combined birthday party this year. and being that we're in the middle of winter here and the kids are getting older and bigger, we decided to rent a bounce warehouse for their party. we got to invite a certain number of friends to come bounce and celebrate with us.

it's also a perfect opportunity to let you 'get to know' who our friends are! lots of pictures to come....

here are the birthday kids, ready to go!

our neighbor collins...gotta love that hair.

rachel and caroline. this is collins' mommy and sister.

ryne was one of the first down the slide.
isaiah was most excited about being 5 because he would be 'just like ryne'.
i didn't have the heart to tell him ryne turned 6 a couple weeks ago...

alaythia did this about 30 times.

august on his way down.

isaiah and jakob - they are two peas in a pod.

randi and alexis (with jonathon strapped in). when the mommies didn't have babies strapped on, we did get in the bounce houses.

matt took some time to launch the kids off the center 'mushroom'.

basil (with elijah in the background). elise gets 'mommy of the year' award because she played on the bounce houses THE ENTIRE time with basil.

the three PhD students (matt, andy and robb). i begged them to let me take this picture and told them one day when they're all famous (and go by matthew, andrew and robert) i'll whip it back out.

alaythia and her friend alethia!

the big 5 year old, sweaty and happy.

this is natalie...every time i went to take a picture she made a face at me. love that girl!

all the kiddos heading up the big slide.

oliver and merry.

me and soph with sarah and emma. emma is just 3 weeks older than sophia. it has been so nice to have a friend to walk the #3 road with.(her oldest is jakob pictured above and august is her middle).

time for cake and ice cream, but more importantly -- juice!

alaythia was SO HAPPY when everyone was singing to her.
she glowed next to her belle princess cake.

isaiah told me before the party he was going to get embarrassed when people sang to him, so when it was his turn he turned his back to everyone and looked at his sword and shield cake while we sang.

we had such a great time. the kids were so tired (mommy and daddy too) and happy afterward. a great day of celebrating!