Karianna's Extended Family Birthday Party!

Allrighty, and now on to the loud extended family birthday party! This year, I felt like it was all the more important to do a fun cousins party for Karianna since we just moved. She kept asking if she could invite a slew of her Phoenix friends to the party, and it was hard for me to explain to her that it was just too far away to do a friends party this year. She was sad as well, but the idea of most of her cousins coming over to swim and celebrate with her quickly replaced any trace of sadness!


So even though we were very excited to have a fun party, we also planned to simplify things as much as possible. See, when all the monkeys-I mean cousins get togethr, it tends ot get a little loud. Exhibit A:
Exhibit B:


Hmm, wasn't so off with the "monkeys" comment, right? We just planned a simple party formula: make little necklaces from Michaels, open presents, eat chocolate pudding pie, swim, and thereafter, hang out until whenever! Of course, snacking was intermixed into all of the above; I just have to mention, Jordan loves pretzals. I think he might have eaten more than anyone. Same goes for the peach slices. And I think he should win some sort of prize for stuffing two hershey kisses in his mouth and attempted to eat them-fully wrapped. Such a grown up boy!


As with Karianna's quiet family party, she loved opening presents with all her cousins. She ended up with a grand total of two Sharpay dolls (who have been dubbed twins), one Gabriella doll, and one Troy doll. JD wants to lay claim on the Troy doll, but thus far Karianna has declined. Some of the smallest gifts are the ones Karianna grew most attached to: a paddle ball thingie (you know, the paddle with a bouncy ball attached by a string?), a mini gum ball machine, and a HSM purse, which holds her perfume, coin purse, and chapstick.

Everything honestly was a hit, and perhaps the crowd pleaser of the day was the talking bowling set my mom presented to Karianna! I have to monitor when the kids play with that one in order to save the walls and the wood floors, but it is such a hit-fun stuff! After presents we proceeded with two chocolate pudding pies, a rousing Erickson rendition of Happy Birthday, and tons of swimming.

I love the look on Karianna's face!

Had to post this one, Karianna and Makayla always take the cutest pics together!

Probably my favorite present pic!

Thanks to everyone who made Karianna feel so special, especially all the cards that were written, created, and drawn for her! We had such a fun time with everyone and Karianna loves you all!