This last Sunday we got to celebrate Keegan's first birthday and our little nephew Mason's 6th birthday together. Their birthdays are only 2 days apart. Matt and I came up with a great idea to have a carnival party because what kid doesn't love the carnival. We tried to keep most of the plans a secret because we really wanted it to be a surprise for everyone. We actually began the planning back in November. First we hired a charicature artist to come and draw pictures of everyone and boy was he great. He did some awesome pictures and funny ones and everyone, kids and adults seemed to really enjoy him. Thanks to my great friends Angela and Sharlee who painted a carnival skinny man and fat lady on a refrigerator box for me and cut out the faces so before anyone could come in the house they had to get their picture taken, the funny part is that no one knew what the picture was until after they did it. Once they came in we had an old fashion popcorn popper set up and a cotton candy machine (thank you Monica) and we had saltwater taffy spread out. The games for the kids were bowling where they won a giant jaw breaker and tickets if they knocked them all down. There was a clown ring toss where they won tickets for hooking the rings. There was a bean bag toss where they won curly straws and tickets, and then there was fish ping pong. Land the ball in the bowl and win the fish. I think all the kids went home with 2 fish each. It was so much fun. The cartoonist entertained all the adults while we played games with the kids. Everyone was laughing and having a great time. Matt had made up carnival menus to hand out and you could order your meal. It was hamburgers, cheese burgers, hot dogs or hand dipped corn dogs, chips and soda. Everyone loved this idea and it made it easier for my dad who was the cook. (Thank you dad, Jane, Bryce and Amber for all your hard work with the food) As the games were being played and the pictures were being drawn we had numbers all of the house that played raffles with if we drew the number you were standing by you won a prize. For the adults we had a balloon animal race and who ever could make a balloon dog first won a $10 gift card to the movie theater. ( Good Job Kristen) This was so funny to watch. The balloons were really hard to blow up. Matt and I were cracking up. We had crepe paper hung from the ceiling like a circus tent (thank you Chris for all of your help). I had to laugh because even after all of this I kept telling people there is still more surprise to come. So everyone had been asking me why we were having a carnival and no clowns. So when it came time to get ready for the cake I told the group that we wanted to take a group photo so we gathered everyone under the crepe paper. Then when everyone was there I said "Well everyone kept asking my how we could have a big top carnival and no clowns and the answer was that we were all going to be the clowns" and then we handed everyone a red clown nose to put on and take a picture and then we had to wear them to sing happy birthday to Mason first and then to Keegan. Everyone was laughing. It was so great and what a funny picture.
Once all the games were played the kids got to turn in all of there tickets for prizes. There were watches and styrofoam airplanes and balloons that shoot up in the air, wall bugs, picture frames and plenty of others that I can't think of.
We can't hardly believe that our little Keegan is already 1 and we just love Mason so much that we really wanted to do something fun and special to celebrate these two little birthday boys. Something hopefully everyone can remember. We had a lot of family come in from out of town to help us celebrate. My mom and Joe and my very special Grandma Garner, my dad and Jane, Bryce and Amber, Matt's sister Tammy(California). Mason's grandma Cathy all made the long trip from Idaho and we couldn't thank them enough for being here.
The party is over and Matt and I are tired but we had so much fun and are so happy that everyone else did too.
Happy Birthday Keegan and Mason. We love you so much.
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3 comments have been left here:
Thanks for all your hard work for the party. We had such a GREAT time! I don't think we'll ever have another birthday party that can top that one ;)
WOWSERS!! you went all out - I mean really all out for that party! No wonder you had to start planning in November! Sounds like it turned out great and everyone had a blast. I can't believe Keegan in one - he is such a cutie!
The party was big, but so much fun. And thank goodness I have a very creative husband and friends who were willing to help out and pull it all together. Without them I couldn't have done it all.
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