Turnin' Five and Feelin' Fine!

Brody turns a whopping five years old tomorrow!! Can you believe it because I just can't?! We celebrated a little early with a party on Saturday at the Wood Lake Nature Center. Very nice place for a kid's birthday party...super easy and fun! The Big B originally told us that he wanted a fishing party. Yes, I know, fifteen four and five year-olds with fishing poles and hooks don't mix, right? That's what I thought, too, so I started hunting for something that would be a similar idea without the risk of a hook in the eye! It turns out that the nature center has all sorts of different party activities incorporating the outdoors, and the one we chose matched Brody's interests perfectly. It was called "Pond Dipping," and that was pretty much exactly what they did. A guide took the kids out to the floating pier on the marsh, where she then gave them each a small net and a bowl and told them to dip their nets in the water and see what they could find. The kids were thrilled to find all sorts of little creatures, most often Japanese snails. The big ticket items were the little minnows, and quite a few of those were found as well. I think Brody could have stayed out there forever just "fishing" away!

this mama can barely hold her birthday boy anymore!

getting instructions from the guide before the fun begins

brody and his japanese snail

eleanor found the first minnow

ruby

kevin and calvin

maisie

don't fall overboard! (brody, eleanor, mylee, gabriel and everett)

no pond dipping for this little cutie, but he didn't mind just watching

After the pond dipping experience, the guide brought the kids back inside and let them touch one of the center's many turtles. Then we served pizza and of course, cupcakes! After the yummy eats and present opening, the kids toured the rest of the nature center and played together until their parents arrived. We sent them home with cute little gift bags containing punch balloons, lollipops, mini markers, and fish magnets to color. It was a very memorable party for a very special little man, and I hope it fulfilled all his fishing dreams!

gabriel, ruby, brody, and everett

a fishing party calls for fish cupcakes!

yummy yummy!

the blue fish were the most requested

presents!

treats!