scenes from a 3rd birthday celebration...

ok, i've got to get caught up on these birthday posts so there are going to be a lot of them from now on.  this is our busy time of year for birthdays and since this blog is my 'scrapbook' for my kids i have to post on important events even if they've already passed.

so, john turned three a month ago now.  and he was really excited for his birthday.  he talked about it for months and talked about wanting to have a big party.  he would tell me who he wanted to invite and then say 'and....' to me so that i could fill in the blank with more invitees so that he could have a 'big' party...it was pretty cute.

i happened to find an ancient martha stewart baby magazine (from when i was pregnant with my first 11 years ago!) that had some adorable ideas for a 3yr. old circus themed party (i.e., cake pictured above) and john john loved looking at that magazine and that lion cake anticipating his party.

so we had some neighbors and friends with little ones over on a sunday afternoon for some face painting,  games, and jumping....

there was a panda trend going on with the girls...

and the (older) boys got into the team logos...

our neighbor is amazing at face painting and balloon art.  the kids each got a balloon sword, flower or animal on their way out...

my mom helped me make the lion cake...

and these adorable party favors. we filled them with animal crackers...

ella helped too. she painted all the stripes on these cups one day when i was putting john down for a nap.

oh and my mom made this cute elephant swag too...

here's the group at singing time...

the little guy had so much fun at his party and that made me so happy.  i just love this kid so much...

how can he already be three?  why, oh why do they have to grow up so fast?!