Why do they have to grow up?

Annalise is no longer a 5 year old..."sniffle, sniffle!"

I had decided that I would no longer plan big parties where I had to supply food, gift bags, decorations, and all the crazy palooza that makes me frantic in preparing for a celebration of my child's birth! NO MORE! I even thought, "okay, I will just do milestone birthdays as a big birthday bash"....didn't work. I LOVE birthdays too much! And even simplifying the "other" years would still mean buying and cooking dinner for all of our family here (quite a big list around these neck of the woods)!

Soooooo....I began my research and googled inexpensive birthday ideas. Low and behold, what I found was, in fact, something that made me smile...jog down memory lane with me for a moment....the ultimate party of the past....McDonald's!!! BUT, now that we live in one of the biggest tourist driven cities, the party is not just a Happy Meal and Ronald McDonald Cake...it's SO MUCH MORE!!! Just keep up and I'll give you the details!

First, here is Annalise with her Granny after putting on all of her birthday gear from Gramps and Granny! She got some cool new shades and a rockin' Camp Rock t-shirt!

PEACE!

Annalise also fell in love with the new card game that Granny taught her ("31"). I'm sure she won most of the hands she played with Gramps! She's a natural!

Drum Roll xxxxxxxx it's Micky D's time!

When we arrived, GATORLAND was doing a demonstration in the party area. We were front row audience! The show was quite entertaining and the trainer even got a tooth (or two) caught on his chin when doing a trick. I got some great shots of the blood on his shirt but decided to refrain from posting those. The trainer played it off well and acted as if he wasn't bothered by it.
But there was BLOOD on his shirt!

Apparently the kids didn't notice or didn't care about the feisty gator! Check out Jordan holding his snout! (it was taped shut by the way).

Go GRAMPS!

Once the party started, the kids halfway ate their meals, fully enjoyed the Ronald McDonald cake (love that I didn't have to buy one) and ice-cream, played musical chairs and other games, received tokens to play in the game room upstairs, and received gift bags!

*side note - I am proudly a member of the Facebook group: "Mothers against birthday gift bags!" I just don't get them! I mean the birthday is about the birthday child, right? Yeah, yeah, I get it...teach them to be giving also. Wonderful idea. YET after the parent has already pulled her hair out in trying to get everything needed for the party and spending WAY more than originally budgeted for...it's time to buy gift bags? NO WAY! Thanks McDonald's for taking care of that in your package. I will no longer buy them on my own :) There! Said it! You all want to say it too!

Annalise with Abby and Kaley!

The party gang getting ready to EAT!

Annalise reading a card from Nana and Pops!

Having a blast in the game room!

I was very happy with the way the party turned out. The best thing - Annalise LOVED it and I was not stressed out! Thank you McDonald's!

And to finish out the evening...a free meal for Annalise is KOBE! I love a good excuse to go to KOBE's! Aunt Cassie let Allison play at her house with her cousins, while we took Annalise out with the grandparents! Here is Annalise with Mimi and Granny getting ready to use those chopsticks!



What a cute picture!!! We also got a group shot from the restaurant. Unfortunately, I forgot to scan it before putting it in a frame. Stink!

Happy Belated Birthday Post Annalise :)