Julia's 5th Birthday Party

Julia's 5th birthday was on a Saturday, so we got to have her party on her actual birthday, which was fun. I was on wards in December, so it was also my one day off that week, so it worked out well. Aaron's parents were coming into town for a company work party that evening, so we hosted the birthday party over lunch. Jessica made the trip, too, which was so sweet and exciting for Julia. Aaron's aunt Nancy and cousin Tyler were on a road trip from Ohio down to visit one of Nancy's friends in Texas, so it was really cool that they got to attend the party on their way. I was nervous because I'd been so sick that week and was still coughing. I warned Nancy, since she was on chemo, but she decided it was worth the risk and came anyway, I handwashed and bleach wiped like crazy, and I think all was well. We were so glad they came. All of my family was there except for Elizabeth, who was still up teaching in Nebraska at the time.

Like I said in the party plans post, we served pizza, chips and dips, fruit salad, and had cookie cake for dessert. We had the soundtrack on for mood music. We ate good food, visited with one another, and watched Julia open presents. Julia had such a blast. I will always treasure the joyful memories of her fifth birthday.

No need to plan party games when Barbie's in the house!

Mary-Claire explaining her gift to Julia. Julia was super into writing letters around this time, so their gift included a stationery kit with stationery Meghan designed. So sweet!

We'd bought the plush Inside Out characters as an early birthday present for Julia so we could use them as decorations. Sarah's gift to Julia, a plush Bing Bong, completed the set. Julia was delighted!

Julia got tons of cool presents. Besides those already mentioned, favorites of hers included her Olivia clothes and red coat from Aaron's parents, a playdough set, stamp set, and Frozen leap pad game from my parents, a tennis racket & balls from Aunt Jessica, and a tinkerbell playset from Aunt Nancy. In other words, she made out like a bandit. 

The girls both opened their birthday gifts from Grandma Judy... handmade pottery tea sets! 

All the party guests!

With the cookie cake my mom made and Sarah decorated. Also, you can see the Jolly ranchers in the background, aka Bing Bong's tears ;-)

I found the COOLEST candles for this party - red, yellow, green, blue, and purple candles that lit up with flames in that color. They looked like memory ball flames X-D

Wearing one of her birthday gifts from mommy and daddy :-)