"Plenty of Friends This Year"

As Porter realized, nearing his much anticipated 6th Birthday!

Although I finished up most of the events from our trip to the States in the last post, there was still one last, but certainly not least, event to blog about. It deserved it's own post I thought.

We literally left to come home to Turkey less than 24 hours after his big birthday party, but we made sure to squeeze it in while still at home. Last year his friends had mostly moved away, so we took full advantage of all of his long lost cousins and buddies that were in town this go round.

I went "hands off" this year, (well as hands off as I can be, anyway). I didn't even make homemade invitations this time- gasp. I know. I still think it was a great success though. Since we were technically living in a hotel we opted to do the party off-site. We rented a birthday room at a local bouncy house place where the kids could play to their heart's content! They all had a great time.

Even Miles enjoyed himself I think! Look at our little redhead!

Porter picked a dinosaur theme after much deliberation- it was initially going to be an Australian party. In any case, he loved all the dino decorations and it still fit because we were in the "bug" room. They also enjoyed dino nuggets to eat; and then there was the cake...

OH THE CAKE!!!

So, since I was going hands off I had my INCREDIBLY talented and amazing friend Lindy make the cake this year!! It turned out so amazing, and better than I could have imagined! Porter L.O.V.E.D. it too, which was the best part. It was exactly to his specifications, chocolate with chocolate buttercream Stegosaurus and SO delicious! Thank you, thank you again Lindy!

The cake alone will make this a birthday he will never forget! (and gave him the best b-day cake he will ever get hands down. sorry buddy. anything after this will be a big disappointment. ha!)

That is one awesome dino!

No 6 year old party would be complete without a few fun presents. He loved all of his awesome gifts, and we especially loved our friends and family who know us and our lifestyle so well. Everything was appropriately sized to put in his backpack for the long trip home! He was also thrilled to get "birthday money" for the very first time, and his first Itunes giftcard! (he got to download some of his very favorite cartoon episodes onto the ipod to watch on the plane. Such a great idea!) Can you tell he is a foreign service kid? Thanks so much to everyone for the thoughtful and fun gifts for him. We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends in our life who came to have fun and support him on his special day!

Also had to do a quick shout out to Target- for providing me with these fantastic "boyish" giftbags! Made my day so much easier, and they are super cool. When you see cute boy stuff you have to snatch it up! Yay, Target!!

Happy Birthday Porter!! I can't believe you are already 6!!!

We love you so much more than you could ever know. We love how your personality absolutely lights up our home, and can't imagine live without you!

Here's to another fantastic year!