Bode’s Birthday Party!

This year I really wanted to pick a party location where I wouldn’t have to do a thing! I knew I didn’t want to play hostess and run a bunch of games, or have tons of kids making a mess in my house. Enter Cabelas! It was awesome. We showed up to a lovely conference room decked out with balloons and gift bags. We chit chatted until the pizza was ready and the kids colored pictures. After pizza, we had cake. Clint’s sister Rachel owns a bakery and is amazing. Bode was in love with his cake!! After cake, the kids saw the big tank feeding of the fish. After that, they got to feed some fish on their own, next up was the shooting range, and after that Bode opened presents. It was such a fun night! Bode is still talking about his party and how much fun it was.

I had my friend Janae snap a quick picture of Bode and I before we left for the party. I’m glad I did because I didn’t get a chance to get any with him at Cabelas! He didn’t cooperate, but we got one anyway.

Check out the pumpkin Bode made at preschool. The eyes are to the right of the nose. :)

Bode was in awe of his cake! He didn’t know what to think so he just sat and stared at it.

Then he tried to eat the trees and the fish.

Coloring while we waited on pizza. Clint kept telling him that the fish food in that little black cup was candy. He almost ate it!

Bode thought the elephant and fish on the wall were so cool. This is the best picture I got, even though it cuts off the fish.

Blowing out candles! I should have been in front of him so I could see him blowing them out, but oh well. Once we got there I realized I forgot candles and a lighter. Aunt Ali and Gma Cozzy went off to find something and came back with those lovely green candles from the store. I was just thankful they were able to find something!

After Bode blew out his candles he was so happy because I told him he could finally eat the fish.

The cake was so good. I told Rachel to do whatever she wanted and she did not disappoint. It was so cool. The top part was funfetti, the middle was some kind of pumpkin spice with cream cheese frosting, and the bottom was apple something another with apple filling. It was delicious and we made sure anyone who would go home with some did! We had so much left over.

Gabe, Cooper M., Bode & Cooper R. These friends all live on our street.

I had to feed Owen around this time so my mom grabbed my camera and started taking a bunch of pictures. She got pictures of every single person who came to the party, but it was still in manual mode and so not a lot of them turned out. I should have turned it to Auto but I wasn’t thinking.  I was glad that she got some though.

My grandpa B and my dad. Then Clint and my grandpa K. We were so glad Bode’s great grandparents could come out!

Everyone feeding the fish! I rejoined the party around this time and it seemed like all the kids were having a great time.

Next up was the shooting range. At the last minute we found out that Clint’s sister Rachel and her boys couldn’t make it. Also Clint’s brother Andy and his family couldn’t make it. SOOO that was going to be 7 extra kids. I sent my parents into the room to check all the gift bags for extra tokens. Each kid got a ton of turns because we had so many. Bode loved it!

This is Bode’s cousin Drextin and grandpa B. I just thought this picture was really funny.

I was glad some of the adults got to enjoy a few rounds. :)

Bode and his friend Gabe.

Bode opening his presents. Every person who gave him a gift except for 2 people got him something to do with dinosaurs! That boy is in dino heaven. He is so funny with all his new toys. He plays with them every day and LOVES them all. I didn’t even make him say thanks to everyone at the party, but he keeps telling me thank you every day. So thanks from Bode!!

He has so many dinosaurs now it’s crazy. He absolutely loves it.

Bode loves balloons and we brought them all home with us. They are all popped or deflated and in the trash now, but he carried those things around for at least a few days.

Owen was a little angel boy the entire night. I didn’t even know who had him or where he was most of the time, but he was such a good boy! He was awake for just about all of the party, but not fussy really. This was right before we headed home and his eyes were so red. I felt bad because I knew he was so tired. There was just too much going on. He didn’t want to sleep and miss out on any of the action. :)

Thanks to everyone who came out for the party and helped us celebrate Bode turning 3. It didn’t hit me until I was looking through all the pictures for the first time that I have a 3 year old. I started tearing up like a big baby. I just can’t believe it’s been that long already. We love Bode and he’s such a little miracle boy. He drives me crazy some days, but I just can’t imagine life without him.