The B-Day Bash!

For Clayton's birthday party this year, we decided to go with a construction theme. I have decided that I really like planning and throwing themed parties, but I don't think I want to do it every year. I know it was only a four year old birthday party, but it still gave me some stress. The weather was touch and go all morning. I was worried because this was supposed to be an outdoor party and the rain would have really spoiled that. Fortunately, by party time, the weather was still holding out and we were able to be outside.

Each kid started out by getting an apron filled with some stuff that you need to be a construction worker (tape measure, woodworking pencil, fruit snacks, granola bar, juice box) and a hardhat. Then (the night before) I got a couple of big oven/dryer boxes, Justin cut holes in them, I cut out curtains and a door for them, and we turned them into "houses". Then I got a bunch of paints and markers and the kids had to "build" the houses. They had a blast!

Those houses turned out so cute! I can't figure out what I am going to do with them now, but it was such a great activity!
Clayton (who woke up at 5:45 telling me it was party time) kept saying, "Mom, we're all workers!" They were too. Those kids worked really hard on those houses.
We also had a "demolition" game, where we stacked up a bunch of empty boxes (we'd been saving boxes for weeks) and the kids tried to knock them down with a tennis ball. I should have taken more pictures of this game, but someone had to keep stacking those boxes (the only downfall of that game)! The swingset was, as always, another big hit. The kids spent a good amount of time swinging and sliding! We also had a yummy BBQ. (Justin was so good about helping me with this party. He made some really yummy food!) While we ate, Clayton got to open his gifts. His friends know him sooo well! He got great gifts that were just perfect for him!


Noah and Carter loved Clayton's presents just as much as Clayton did!


After the gifts had all been opened, it was time for cake! I found a picture in a magazine ('Family Fun' - it's my new favorite) of a construction cake that I tried to make. It was my first attempt at making a cake that was actually supposed to "be" something. It totally did NOT look like the picture, but Clayton loved it and I was pretty proud of it too!

I love how puffy his cheeks get when he blows out candles.

Right after he blew out his candles it started to rain (can you say "perfect timing")! The party was scheduled to go to 5:00 and the rain started at 4:57. I wish it wouldn't have rained at all, but if it had to rain (which apparently it did), it rained at the perfect time.
Here is Noah standing in the rain as we rush to bring everything inside.
Thankfully, all of our wonderful guests helped us hustle to get everything inside. Then we ate our cake in the house and that was pretty much the end of Clayton's 4th B-Day Bash! It was so much fun and so worth all the stress it gave me. I don't think we'll be having parties like that every year, but I think that every couple of years a big party is perfect! After everyone had left and the cleanup was almost over Clayton came up to me and said, "That was a great party mom! I had so much fun with my friends!" Just knowing how appreciative he was melted my heart. Thanks to everyone who came! I think (hope) this is going to be a memorable birthday for him!