Julia's 6th Birthday Party

Happy Birthday Beautiful Girl

We celebrated Julia's birthday with a belated party Saturday, the 5th. Julia is very "into" dolphins right now, which prompted an ocean/swimming themed party. The parents of some good friends of ours graciously let us host her party at their pool. They have a beautiful backyard and pool. Couldn't be thankful enough for their generosity.

Julia is following in her Mama's footsteps and was so involved in planning her party this year. She thought of cute party favors to make, she made decorations, and she even decorated the fish cupcakes. So cute to see her enjoy planning for her birthday party just as much as going to it.

 

 For the food we had clam cookies complete with a pearl inside. Julia made these. We also had a octopus made out of an orange bell pepper sitting in veggie dip and surrounded by lots of other veggies. And Gabe carved a shark out of a watermelon which was filled with the melon balls and swedish fish candy. Surrounding the shark was blue jell-o. The shark was a HIT!
 

Gabe carved the watermelon shark with Julia's help

Abby and Julia

Maggie

Kelly and Molly

Kyle and Isaac

Isaac

David

Caleb

 

Molly

Julia really enjoyed her swimming party

 

This year's birthday cake may be my favorite so far. As most of you know I have made every single one of my kid's birthday cakes over the years. Some have flopped and some have not, but I enjoy doing this for my kids. Just something special I do for them every year. I made Julia an ocean cake. I used chocolate melts and molds to make seahorses, starfish, and shells. I also used the chocolate to pipe some seaweed. We found edible rocks and pearls (bubbles) to decorate with as well. Then I took rice krispie treats to form an island which I iced and covered with brown sugar. On the island sat an Ariel candle. It turned out really cute. Around the cake board I swirled blue piping gel to look like water and then we set the fish cupcakes around the ocean cake. Julia LOVED her cake and that was all I wanted.

All the kids had a blast swimming. We stopped for cake and gifts and then the pinata. When that was done, the kids went right back to swimming. Though we were all exhausted by the time it was said and done, the party went well and everyone had a good time.

The Dunlaps talking with Gabe

Christi and Derrick

Paul and Daniel

Gabe jumped in and rescued this little girl in the black swim suit. Way to go Lifeguard Gabe!

Isaac

Julia and her good friend Caleb

When we got home and got cleaned up, we watched the Little Mermaid. We gave Julia the movie for her birthday. She had never seen it. I know, I know she is 6 and still hasn't seen the movie. I have purposefully held off on most of the Disney movies with my kids because most of the "classics" have very evil characters. Anyway, she was so fun to watch as she got into the movie and oohed and awed throughout. It was a fun experience.

Can't believe my baby girl is 6 years old already. Time flies. I cherish every moment.