Party Time!

Finally, the big day... Katie and Ell's 5th Birthday Party with THE GREAT ZUCCHINI (a children's magician)!  We asked all the kids to wear their costumes, so we could have a Magical Halloween good time!

I did the party invitations myself -- and I'm quite proud of them, in case you couldn't tell! 

Momma prepping the gift bags -- a magician's hat filled with a magician's wand, a bunny (bags stuffed with cotton candy), clickety-clackety halloween teeth, a squishy pumpkin, and some candy.

Daddy and Mimi's handiwork - halloween decorations and "Happy Birthday Katie and Ella" chalked on the driveway.

Decorating pumpkins and etching halloween decorations.

The kids enjoying the chalk,

Princess Ella with her friends Princess C. and Vampire B.

Show time!!! 

The Great Zucchini begins his show -- he already has the kids' undivided attention!

Princess Ella and Witchy-Poo Katie are his handy-dandy assistants.

Ella making Katie levitate!

The Zucchini playing games with the kids in the front yard.  I love the looks on their faces, as if they are running for their lives!

Cake time!  Katie's first this year with the song and blowing out the candles. 

Ella was sick this year (funny because if I recall correctly, Katie was sick last year) the day I had to order birthday cakes so Ella picked out Care Bears for their birthday cakes this year (not Halloween or Fall like I wanted!).  She picked pink icing and a pink Care Bear for Katie and purple icing with a purple Care Bear for herself.

Make a wish, Katie!  Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!!!

Ella's turn for her song and candles.

Make a wish, Ella!  Happy 5th Birthday, My Angel!!!!

Parting scene of the party and our guests...

despite it being a rushed and COLD morning (not to mention the demanding "talent" -- Zucchini was a hoot in terms of working conditions), it turned out to be a beautiful day and a wonderful party!

We ended up not doing the pinata at the party -- too much confusion and not enough prep time -- se we did it after the kiddos left.  This is Katie giving the pinata a good SMASH!

Ell's turn to give it a WHACK!

hmmm... down and still not open... what shall we do?

RIP it open, of course!

Candy, candy, candy... all to ourselves!

The "after" party -- getting the toys out of the packaging!