five five five five five

I will warn you now.  There will be a lot of pictures in this post.  Consider yourselves warned.  Now...Let's get this party started=)

Mikelle, Abbie and I stayed up late getting everything ready for the perfect birthday...Abbie even swept and mopped my large kitchen, dining area and laundry room.  Bless that woman.

Just a glimpse at the chaos=)

But everything came together:

and then we went to bed, anticipating Jack's reaction.

Taylor woke up first:

Then Noah:

Then Austin:

And finally...

Jack!

Here is what he is seeing:

Here is his reaction:

Oh, I love that face!

meeting his cake for the first time.

Austin contemplates the wonder that is helium as Noah patiently waits for a lick

(Jack was great about sharing that sucker)

Kristen took this when I wasn't watching, but it's funny to me, so I'm including it. 

We were having a small chat about what a birthday is

(a happy day to celebrate the birthday child)

and what it isn't

(a day to be sad because you aren't the birthday child or be snotty because you are)

Then with that all cleared up, on to breakfast.  Kristen made green pancakes=)

This is Taylor saying: when it's my birfday, tan I hab a bwoon wike dat?

(yes you can.)

The morning went by quickly, and the party was upon us before we knew it!

(Jack has the cutest little friends)

It all was so much fun, but the best part was (as I predicted) the monster hunt.

(mikelle the "queen monster" hiding)

Everyone searching for her:

And finding her!

And chasing her down and chucking water balloons at her!

They finally got the best of her:

and showed no mercy:

Oh...we laughed so hard.

so hard.

Then went inside for cake and presents:

It was a VERY fun party.

After the party, Jack took a bath.  (he got a slip n' slide at the party and got all wet)  I told him that it was still his birthday and he could do anything he wanted to, then asked what he'd like to do.

He replied:

"stay calm, and play and play, and eat lots of cake."

I loved that idea.  That is what he did.

Later, Grandma and Grandpa Larson came over with some fun presents:

everyone appreciated this=)

And just around bed time Jack decided the park sounded like a good idea, so we went and played baseball, just the six of us.

And all in all, it was a perfect day.

Jack stayed happy all day long, and he is a perfect little five.