Holden’s 5th Burgess Birthday Bash!

The big day for Holden’s birthday party finally came.  We always do it on the first Saturday in January, after everyone’s holiday happenings have drawn to a close.  We still managed to find a few of our friends traveling or working on this weekend, but it usually works out best for most around that time.

He was really, really excited.  I think this Christmas and this birthday were the most memorable for him…he was old enough to really “get” what was going on, and young enough to think they were the coolest events ever!

So this year, he wanted a football theme.  I set out to draw half of a football field on his cake.  I would have gone for the whole thing if I’d made a half sheet cake, but half a field was the best I could do on a 13”x9”!  LOL.  Steve and Hayden worked on the goal post out of toothpicks and play-doh.

Holden thought it was awesome, and that was all that mattered to me!                                                                                                  

                                 

Next up was the cake pops.  He really, really wanted cake pops.  I was already doing the strawberry 1/4 sheet cake and 24 Funfetti cupcakes with cold whipped frosting, but he insisted on the chocolate cake pops, too.  So I stayed up until 2 AM the night before and got busy baking, frosting, dipping, and sprinkling my heart out.  I ended up with 50 cake pops dipped in chocolate with 8 different kinds of sprinkles, all individually wrapped and tied with a bow.  Oh, and they were delicious, if I may say so myself!

                                   

 

 

When we all gathered around to sing happy birthday to him, he kept blowing out the candles before we were done singing…I tried twice, and he did the same thing both times!  So no pictures of him blowing out the candles this time.  Crazy boy!  He sure was in a hurry to make his wish. 

 

 

 

 

 

Upon trying the cake, Holden declared it a winner with a double thumbs up!  That’s a winner in my book any day.  

 

 

 

 

Then it was time to open gifts.  He got some really thoughtful gifts from his friends and appreciated all of them, but the big hit of the day was a shiny new reflective Nerf football with night goggles that light it up in red and green.  Totally awesome!  They boys have been playing with it ever since.  I have to admit that it’s pretty darn cool!  Thanks, Andra & Stef!

 

All of the kids seemed to have a lot of fun playing outside and generally enjoying each other’s company.  It was a beautiful day!  And in lieu of an overpriced pinata this year, I opted to use a cardboard box with a flap cut in the front where the kids could reach inside the “mystery treasure box” and retrieve handfuls of candy surprises to fill up their goody bags.  That seemed to go over really well with the kids, too.  No one went home short on sugar this day.  LOL.

 

Thanks to all of our dear friends who came to take part in this wonderful day in Holden’s little life.  And to my dear, sweet, Holden, may this be one of many blessed and happy years in your beautiful life, my darling!  I love you forever!