Levi's 3rd Birthday

Tim and I have decided to do birthdays like this:
1st birthdays are fun and messy, inviting family and close friends.

2nd Birthdays are immediate family only, simple and within our home.

3rd birthdays include a few close friends to just play, gifts, and cake.

Once my kids are in school, I'm thinking more "themed" parties. Until then, my kids won't remember them so no point in trying to impress.

I don't remember having a lot of birthday parties growing up. And in the case that I didn't (like I said, I don't remember), I want to make sure that doesn't happen with my kids. I want them to have a birthday party with friends, take pictures, have cake and ice cream, making memories.

Anyway, Levi's birthday was composed of inviting 5 friends (3 of which came) from Nursery at church. They played for about an hour, then we did gifts which took about 15 minutes. Then we ate cake and goodies. The party only lasted about 2-3 hours.
Here are some pictures of Levi opening gifts.

SPIDERMAN!

YOYO and Fundough

 This was one of those weighted blow up punching bags. It popped by day 3.

Presents from Mommy and Daddy:
Bathtub fishing

 Spiderman pajamas. Glad I bought these, he loves them!

 Play dinosuars, Levi loves these too. He's getting the rest of them for Christmas.

 Ice Age:The Movie

 Neon Markers/Paper (he likes this during church but has a hard time keeping his hands clean ;/)

No big deal on Levi's cake this year. I  made french vanilla cake and buttercream frosting that was amazing. Instead of "ice cream" I made my peanutbutter chocolate chip cookies and put ice cream in between them for ice cream sandwiches. That way we didn't have to have a bunch of melted ice cream that most kids don't finish.

Daddy lighting the 3 candles

Levi did a great job of blowing his birthday candles out this year!

Later, as a family we took Levi to Jungle George's, which is a bounce house place here in fort wayne. It's like a chucky cheese only with bounce houses instead of tunnels and ball pits. Still had arcade games and pizza too.
Anyway, adults are free and kids are in for $5, so its not a bad deal.
We did invite Levi's friends and families to join us but it wasn't officially part of the "party".

It was a lot of fun for Levi and he slept great that night.
We had family come from out of town too, Tim's sister and her husband and kids. They joined us at Jungle George's and then we picked up some pizza to eat for dinner. They spent the night and went to church with us the next morning.

(Random, it's much easier to stay the night at our home now! Tim and I bought a California King bed, so Levi inherited our Queen and the Twin went to Lila's room. When we have company, Levi sleeps in Lila's room and even then we could set up pack and plays and someone could sleep  in the twin too.)

Such a good weekend and we loved seeing family!
Happy 3rd Birthday my little man!
(Levi's stats will have to come later, he hasn't been in for his 3 year yet)