Thursday, June 24, 2010

On Turning 5... With LOTS of photos!

Happy Thursday! Yesterday, it was so interesting reading all of your comments about how much you laugh. I definite laugh far less frequently than most of you, but I honestly think part of that is influenced by the fact that I am single and live alone. I hypothesize that those in happy relationship tend to laugh more. Companionship seems to breed laughter. I am alone quite a bit, so it's not too surprising that I laugh a little less than others.

But you know when I do laugh a lot? When I around my 4 adorable nephews!

It's been awhile since I've done a "gushing aunt" pose! My nephew Andrew recently turned 5 and I got to help out at his birthday party!

Before I share pics from his party, I'd like to flash back to some older photos of Andrew and I.



Visiting Andrew during his first week at home, June of 2005. He's so tiny!


Flash forward to summer of 2006. This is one of those rare times when he actually cuddled with his aunty. He's always been a busy body so I really treasure this photo! Oh, and clearly I was in the throws of marathon training, hence the fact that I was just hanging out in my 2 piece swimsuit with no cover up on!

Flash forward to Andrew's 3rd birthday, summer of 2008. This picture cracks me up. We were all singing Happy Birthday when this photo was taken but he just could NOT wait to taste that frosting!

Now here we are at present time! Andrew's party was at a place called Pump It Up. They had those inflatable slides & bouncing things. Pretty much every active 5 year old's dream!

Andrew was super excited to head out to party!

There were slides to slide down

Obstacle courses to navigate


And an air hockey table!


Matthew, my 2 year old nephew, wanted in on the air hockey action. It's sort of tough for a 2 year old to play air hockey...




Hence the little meltdown when Matthew kept getting scored upon. I could not help taking this pictures. Some of us the kids in my family are uber competitive (ahem, like me); apparently this gene was passed down to Matthew. I know this little melt down probably wasn't funny to my brother & sister-in-law, but I kind of thought it was hilarious.


After running off some energy, it was time for cake!


Then Andrew got to sit on a throne and open up his presents. He got quite the royal treatment!



I ended the day with a snapshot with Andrew

I am so lucky that I live so close to these 2 little munchkins so I can be part of these memories! I wish I lived closer to my other 2 nephews. I will get to see them all in August so am really looking forward to that!

Do you remember your 5th birthday party? I had my firsts friend's party. There were both boys & girls there and we went to Show Biz Pizza which is now called Chuckee Cheese. My grandma made me a Rainbow Brite Cake and I remember having a fabulous time!

23 comments:

Emily Jane said...

Oh I definitely remember those adventure parks as a kid!! They had one almost vertical bouncy slide and all the tough kids would throw themselves down it... so much fun. I wanna go back now lol :)

I don't remember if it was 4 or 5 but I remember having a clown party in which my best friend bawled and ran away because she was so scared!! :(

Great pics - your nephew is adorable!!

Abby said...

So cute! It looks like he had a blast! I love how you did kind of a progression of pictures of him growing up. My he has changed - and time sure goes by fast!

I always think it's hysterically funny/cute on the inside when our nephews have meltdowns. However, when it's anyone elses kid? - I drives me up the freaking wall. I think my "irritation-factor" is directly related to how the PARENTS react.

Anywho, (I'm ranting).....

I do remember my 5th bday party. It was at our house with my pre-school friends.

You are so lucky to get to spend some much time with our nephews! They probably have no understanding of who I even am anymore :(

Charbelle said...

A kid after my own heart when it comes to frosting!! They are so incredibly adorable!! The meltdown is funny to us, cause it's not our kid :)
My 5th birthday I'm sure my mom had a party for me and she would have made the cake but as for exact details I don't remember. My mom was awesome at birthday parties!!

abbi said...

Looks like your nephew had a great time. The picture of the meltdown is cute too! :-)

I can't seem to remember 5, it seems like the first birthdays I remember were in the 7-8 range but I certainly remember going to different Chuck E. Cheese type places and lots of roller skating rinks!

I'maNolaGirl said...

What a sweet little boy! I love that last picture of you two! He's very lucky to have you for an aunt!

Nora said...

How adorable are these photos!? Show Biz Pizza! I remember that place. I was lucky enough to go to Chuck E. Cheese's for the birthday party of a young boy I babysit for his 5th birthday and it was so much fun.

I think my 5th birthday party was Barbie Themed, at my parents house, but I'm not sure. My brother was *just* born 28 days prior so I'm not sure we did a whole lot. That may have been my 6th birthday party. I did have an Alice in Wonderland themed one when I lived in Florida. That was pretty fun!

Marlys said...

I've been waiting for this blog! What a great time they apparently had! Matthew is so his Daddy's son! I can laugh now. :D! Great blog, Lisa! It was great that you caught that little cake licking episode on camera - too cute!

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

Oh my gosh I totally forgot that Chuckee Cheese was Show Biz pizza!!! I loved that place and totally remember having a party there but can't remember what age!

Gracie said...

So cute! I remember that for my 5th birthday all I wanted was a tea set. This was after a failed attempt to steal my friend Bridget's tea set, which I was accomplishing by sneaking one piece at a time home in my pockets, until my mother found a saucer in the wash and made me give it all back. I did get the tea set for my birthday, probably in order to curb my klepto tendencies.

Megan said...

He is big for a five year old! Or is that just me? :) My cousins remind me of your nephews...especially the meltdown!

I'm pretty sure my 5th birthday was at Chuck E. Cheese too! I bet most anyone our age had at least ONE birthday there. Mine involved a vanity set from Fisher Price that came with a plastic necklace and one of the other girls was whining about wanting to wear it and my Mom made me let her! I was so angry! haha :)

P.O.M. said...

Very cute. My neice is about to turn 5 - such a fun age.

I always had to share bday parties with my sister. We would fight over who got the ballerina at the top of the cake. But since I was older (and meaner) I would usually make her friends stay in my sister room as my friends took over the house (and the ballerina figurine).

Unknown said...

What a perfect place for a kid's birthday party! Great pictures, Lisa. Poor Matthew, too much for a two year old to process. I don't remember my 5th birthday, but I do remember my 6th because I invited every girl from my first grade class, forgetting to mention it to Mom. It never crossed my mind there would be a problem with just a few more sitting at the supper table. I mean, there were 10 of us every meal already, couldn't we just pull up a few more chairs? Mom was not pleased. That was the LAST time I did that! I also think it might have been my last birthday party!

J said...

Your nephew is so cute! They grow up so fast!

I remember my 5th birthday very well. I have a big cake in the shape of a flower. It was specially done and so beautiful! I am so glad my mom took lots of pictures of it! Plus I had this little home made crown around my head that had the number five on it.

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said...

I love that meltdown photo! It's so funny! There is a story in my family that either I or my brother (I can't remember who) had a huge meltdown in a museum. And my mom just walked away. She watched me from afar. But, she wouldn't be a party to it. She wanted to let me get it out of my system and then we could continue on with our day. Other visitors were horrified that she just let me (or my bro) melt away.

Amber said...

I LOVE the one of the two of you cuddling from when he was little. And look at that little blondie! Oh my, SO CUTE!

That looks like SUCH A FUN birthday party!!! Eric's sister recently had a party for his nephew (who turned 6) and there were kids EVERYWHERE now that he's finally school-age!

I do not remember my 5th birthday at all. The earliest birthday I remember clearly is my 9th! Haha

Lauren @ Sassy Molassy said...

Cute photos! I love those bouncy things. Dang girl, that bathing suit shot is impressive and looks like an adorable suit. I'm a sucker for cute swimsuits, even though I don't have many opportunities to wear them. I'm holding out this year...no Jcrew swimsuit for me. Don't need it. I suppose that's reason enough to plan a vacation to somewhere tropical next year. ;)

Kelly said...

That looks like an awesome 5 year old birthday party, I love that throne! I wish my bro and sis had kids but they are in college so its not looking good haha. I guess I have plenty of 5 year olds in my life though.

I don't remember my 5 year old birthday...but I moved that summer so I'm thinking it was probably low key. Birthday parties seem to be getting crazy these days :)

Kyla Roma said...

So cute!! Being an adult now, I *cannot* fathom how fast kids grow up, it just blows me away! He's adorable, and it looks like an awesome party :)

Ally said...

So cute! My 5th birthday was at McDonalds. It was what all the cool kids were doing back in the 80s!

Mandy said...

Your nephews are adorable. I'm so glad that you were able to be a part of Andrew's birthday party. How special for the both of you.

jdotzenrod said...

I have to agree with your mom. I love these blogs. Andrew was so excited to see himself. Thanks again for helping out with the party!

Shoshanah said...

I don't really remember my 5th birthday party. But what I do remember is the day afterwards in Kindergarten, while my teacher's back was turned, I yelled out to the entire class, "raise your hand if you went to my birthday party." I'm pretty sure I wound up getting in trouble for that one!

Becky said...

Aw, what a fun day! Love all those pictures! (Um, and Rainbow Brite was awesome - totally jealous of your cake from years ago).