{ 5th birthday party, Tangled style. }

It's hard to believe my baby girl turned 5 yesterday!

5.

half a decade.

Birthday's are a big deal to me. I don't take a year I have with my girls for granted. I fully realize there are mothers who have lost their child and would love more than anything to celebrate each year their child grows another year older.

So instead of a birth{day}, we celebrate a birth{week}.

I started the birthday fun by making Kenna a 5 year old shirt. I have been wanting to try my hand applying an applique to a shirt for a long time. It turned out way easier than I thought it would be. I didn't get a great picture of it but you can see it if you keep your eye out.  I do want to mention that after I made the shirt and let Kenna try it on, her little eyes filled with tears and she said, "My eyes are crying because I am just so happy you made me this shirt."

Do I have the sweetest daughter or what?



The girls and I each took a friend  ;) to the Children's museum and out for ice cream one night on Family Free Night and another day while Kinzley was at school and I had the day off, Kenna and I went on a "date." We went to Panera, Target and to see the movie, "Gnomeo and Juliet." The best part... we were the only ones in the entire movie theater! Kenna kicked her shoes off and didn't even have to whisper when she talked, which was every 13 seconds or so. She was certain they wouldn't let anyone else in the theater because it was her birthday. ;)

I actually tried my very hardest to convince Kenna to skip the party at our house, instead offering to take all her friends to a local motel to let them swim all afternoon. Kenna was having none of that. She wanted a Tangled party and she wanted it at our house. I was certain I'd be able to swing her vote to the pool and three days before her birthday decided I have better get planning because she wasn't having it.

The day before her birthday Kenna went to play at my mom's and Kinzley and I decorated the house, turning our kitchen into the "festive" that was held outside the castle on Rapunzel's birthday.


Luckily I had some yellow fabric {left over from a pillow experience gone bad ;) } and some "floating lanterns" I had used for Kinzley's rockstar room.



I printed a "sun banner" off on cardstock using a template that can be found here, made by another mom {Super mom} who threw her daughter a Tangled party. I used the leftover yellow fabric and tied it to each triangle.

I used a recycled purple tablecloth and a birthday banner we re-use every year and decorations were done. For free!





For party favors I borrowed the idea to give away a set of watercolor paints, since Rapunzel loved to paint in the tower she was locked in for 18 years.. The Supermom graciously made printable labels to tape on the outside of the paint. I printed off free coloring sheets from here, rolled them in a violet colored pony tail holder.

All the crafts were placed in cast iron skillets like the one Rapunzel used to hit Flynn Ryder. Did I mention Tangled has been playing non-stop in our house since the day it was released on DVD? ;)

I wasn't sure Kenna was actually going to sleep the night before her birthday. She had been counting down her birthday for the last 6 weeks and the night before about pushed her over the edge. She kept coming out of her room to tell me Happy Birthday. :) I would say, "Kenna it's your birthday not mine." She'd answer, "I know! I just don't want you to forget!!" As if I I could.

After midnight she fell asleep only to wake up and hour and a half earlier than normal the next day.

Finally!

We started her big day with a candle in a doughnut.


We let her open a few presents. One was my favorite gift. A  Baby Be Blessed bunny
I won in their weekly giveaway a few weeks before!



I've wanted one of their products for the longest time. Each doll they make has a scripture verse sewn onto the stomach. The women that makes these dolls have such Godly hearts, be sure to check out their blog to read about all the lives they touch.





I took a few pictures of Kenna with her Tangled birthday cupcake cake she took for preschool snack. {For the record I'd have made her a homemade one but for preschool it has to be store bought. }



Then she was off to school for a few hours while I made lunch for 9 kids starting with jello boats to represent the boat Flynn and Rapunzel sat in while they watched the floating lanterns on her birthday.



In addition to the jello boats there was grapes, garlic bread and pasta inspired by Rapunzel's long locks.



There was nail painting for the girls, and face painting for those brave enough to allow paint on their face. ;)

They played "pin the hair on Rapunzel" using a picture of Rapunzel I got here.
I opened it in photoshop and enlarged it. I had Kinzley color it for me while I braided yellow yarn to make braids. I just attached a piece of tape with each child's name on it. Not the most visually attractive but it did the trick.



They pulled hair tug of war with a yellow jump rope I got at the dollar store.




{Btw I have NO idea why my oldest daughter decided she needed to wear her bathrobe on top of her clothes the entire party. No clue.}

For a craft I had them make Pascal party blowers.
How cute as these?


{Directions found here.}



Somewhere in the middle Kenna opened presents, {lots of Tangled!} they ate cupcakes and ice cream and finished the party by watching part of the movie, you guessed it, Tangled. ;)

Later that night Tim brought home Kenna's favorite pizza for supper. She had just enough time to eat, and to have a quick visit with Grandma and Grandpa before heading off to Awana's where she took frosting covered sugar cookies to share with her class.

Surprising enough the 19 pounds of sugar she had eaten all day long didn't keep her awake all night. As I tucked her into bed she gave me a huge hug and said, "This is the best day my life. I love when you give me a party because you make it so special. That is why I didn't want to go swimming."

Be still my heart.

We then talked about the things she would do now that she is 5.
1. learn to tie her shoes.
2. learn to read.
3. stop sucking her thumb.

She didn't flinch about the first two. The third one on the other hand had her a bit worried. So much so that she came out of her room after I thought she was sleeping to say, "This is going to take some getting used to. I'll probably have to do it a couple times a night until I can get used to it. Ya know, get.used.to.it." 


If the biggest issue I have with my newly turned 5 year old is a little addiction to her thumb, I think she's doing just fine. 

I couldn't be prouder of my girl with her compassionate heart and the kindness that radiates out of her. It was my absolute pleasure to bring her the happiness this party gave her. 


Happy 5th Birthday Rapunzel Kenna!!!
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ps...If you happen to have a Tangled party for your little princess be sure to let me know! I'd love to see your ideas!