The Par-Tay...

He had this day all planned out in that little blonde head of his for about six months.  His first "friend party" was going to be epic, and leave it to Kaelster to request,

"When everybody leaves my party, they get a dog just like Cooper".

Parting gifts indeed.

And I'm not gonna lie, it totally lived up to all the hype.  Which is really saying something because Kael, like his mama, has the occasional problem with building things up in his head to an unattainable level.  And that's can make for a quick highway trip to disappointment, because in your head you can do things like send a yellow lab pup home with a camo ribbon tied around its neck to all your little five-year-old buddies, you know?

Turns out shooting ranges and fish feeding are like the mecca for little gents.  And all the planning in the world (even six months worth) couldn't tarnish a single thing at the mecca.  It was awesome.

 There was a plethora of camo. {Not surprising}

 And a LOT of target practice.  {Also not shocking}

And there were many a trophy mule deer taken from this particular hunting spot.

Photo ops at Birthday parties might rank right up there with kids selling lemonade and Sunday naps, in my humble opinion.

I couldn't tell if he liked his friends singing Happy Birthday to him.  Or if he liked his "Monroe Mountain" birthday cake complete with a motorcycle and "Golden" candles.  Hint, if you ever play Colored Eggs with this little man, he is ALWAYS the golden egg.  :)

 And no one will ever know if he liked to open presents.  :)  We talked about manners the night before.  I said, you might open a present and think it's not your favorite toy, but everybody who brings a present is doing something nice for you on your birthday, so what will you say even if it's something you think you don't really like?  He responded so sincerely,
"I will say, 'Um, No thanks, my friend.'"
Oh boy. 

Eventually we got it all figured out and he knew he would say thank you and give each friend a hug for helping him celebrate.  I know the gratitude was heart felt as he full on strangled his gift giving friends with glee. 

 We wrapped up the magic with a "campfire pinata". 

Which no one liked at all.  :) 

Our little five-year-old dug out a party hat from my supplies and sported this get up all morning long as we ran errands.  I told him it wasn't his party yet and he didn't have to wear his birthday shirt if he didn't want to.  He retorted,
"MOM!  I want to wear this!  So everybody will say, 'Happy Birthday' to me!"

Duh.

And finally at home, we finished with a little Birthday spankeroo session and the obligatory kiss and smoosh the birthday boy picture -- because, those cheeks deserve such things. 

 This kid.... One in a million, I tell ya.

So happy to party with our five-year-old!

XO