Carter's Birthday Party

We had Carter's 3rd birthday party yesterday at Harpeth School of Gymnastics. We've always done parties at our house, but with not having one right now, we had to find somewhere else to have it. With it starting to cool off, we didn't want to commit to anything outside so we needed somewhere indoors to host it. Missy suggested this gym, and besides being more affordable than most other places (like Monkey Joe's, Monkey's Treehouse, and Gymboree), it was so much fun!

We invited Carter's preschool class and Missy and Heather's kids. We had a total of ten guests (including baby Luke). It was a great size.

The party room wasn't much, but we decorated a little and it was perfect. Besides, the kids were there to play more than hang out in here.


As the kids arrived, they played in the pit. One of the kids moved the slide to the edge of the pit and they loved sliding into it. (It took Carter awhile to get out once he crawled so far in - he's in the green shirt.)


We had a coach who ran everything and she was great! She had lots of activities organized for the kids but if some of the kids weren't interested and wandered off to another part of the gym, she let them. I signed up for the "Mommy and Me" version of the party so parents could come into the gym with the kids and help out. It worked out really well.

The kids started off by stretching ...


And then they did an obstacle course. Here are Carter and Claire ...


The rope swing was a big hit ...


Next was the runway and trampoline. The runway was a long trampoline that the kids could run or bounce along ...


Carter liked bouncing off the trampoline and falling down ...

Carter was awesome at the balance beam. He never fell off and just walked along with full confidence. Here are Carter and Sarah Kate on the balance beam ...


Carter got much better at somersaults. The incline helped a lot!

Birthday boy ...


And his copycat brother ...


The last thing the kids did was the parachute. They had a lot of fun running under it ...


And they all got some crazy hair!


Then Carter got presented with a t-shirt and medal ...


We spent about and hour and fifteen minutes in the gym and then spent the last fifteen minutes have cupcakes.

Carter enjoyed everyone singing "Happy Birthday". He loves blowing out his candle but apparently Maggie loves doing it too ...

The kids got their sugar high and then we sent them home for naps. Hopefully the sugar kept them awake long enough to drive home and then they all crashed! (The party was from 12:15 to 1:45 pm.)

We waited to open presents until we were at home. I'm used to opening them at the party but at the party we went to a few weeks ago, they didn't. When I asked Missy and Heather, they said they've never been to a party where the kid opens their presents there. So we waited.

Carter got a ton of awesome stuff ...


He played with the toys all evening and has been playing with them all morning too. He keeps talking about all his "presents from my friends".

Now we have Carter's actual birthday on Tuesday. He has school that day so they'll do a little celebration with his class. And then we'll celebrate again with family over Thanksgiving. He probably think a birthday lasts two weeks instead of one day!