Isla's a"DORA"ble 3rd Birthday!

I have spent all week downloading all the pictures

from Isla's party!

I know this is the longest post ever

but I want her to remember

all the details of the fabulous day!

Isla insisted she have a

DORA themed party.

It was hard to come up with cute

ideas for DORA but I think we managed!

What does a birthday girl wear

to a DORA Party?????

Gue made Isla a precious DORA

birthday shirt and

I made her a matching tutu!

She looked absolutely a"DORA" ble!

None of my children's birthday parties

would be complete without Gue dressing up!

She made a fabulous DORA!

DECORATIONS!

I was going to do the entire party

in pink and orange but

when Isla went to Party City

with me she decided she

wanted pink and purple.

She was the birthday girl so we

went with PINK and PURPLE!

My wonderful neighbor cut out the

flowers and letters for me to

make Isla a birthday banner!

Haley helped me make pink and

purple flowers out of

tissue paper to decorate the

fence of the playground!

Preacher helped by printing off DORA

characters for us to use on all the signs!

I got this really creative idea for

centerpieces for the tables.

I found the idea on Bird's Party Blog!

They turned out real cute but took me

FOREVER!

I did give two of them

to Jessica and Roxann as a

thank you gift for traveling so

far and helping me with the party!

The others are now decorations

in the girl's bedroom.

Tiffany helped me make custom

party hats for all the kids.

We made pink and purple for the

girls and orange for the boys!

And of course no party is complete without

BALLOONS!

Thanks to Jared!

FOOD!

I really wanted to do

cupcakes for Isla but

she insisted

(she knew what she wanted)

on having a cake!

It was really hard to find a

cute DORA cake in the

Columbus area!

Isla blowing out the candles!

Daddy, mommy, and Isla!

Isla enjoying eating the cake!

(it was delicious!)

We had animal cookies!

("Diego's Animal Rescues)

Boot's Bananas!

(one of Isla's favorites!)

Dora Snacks!

(Isla would eat a whole box

a day if I would let her!)

Nina brought us these cute DORA

sugar cookies from a

bakery in Tuscaloosa!

Isla really liked them!

Pop grilled hotdogs for

everyone and Gue

brought the most

delicious baked beans ever!

We also served pink

lemonade and purple cool-aide!

Hotdogs are Isla's favorite!

MUSIC!

Jared made a CD of all the songs on

Dora the Explorer. He set up the sound

system outside and had them playing

throughout the party!

ACTIVITIES!

We had the party at our

church's playground so all

the kids enjoyed swinging,

sliding, and playing!

We also had

Benny's Bubbles!

Boot's Bounce House!

After we ate cake and hotdogs

it was time for the pinata!

But oh no!

Swiper the Fox came

and swiped the Pinata!

We had to go on a DORA

Adventure to find the Pinata!

"WHO DO YOU ASK FOR HELP

WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW

WHICH WAY TO GO?"

THE MAP!

1st we had to go under Rainbow Bridge (ballon arch)

Next we had to go through Tico's Tunnel

Then we had to cross Crocodile Lake!

Isla listened carefully to the directions!

Before we could go on our adventure

the kids had to get their backpacks!

Thanks to Gue for working hard and

making the precious backpacks for the kids!

The back packs were filled with everything they

would need to complete their adventure!

Everyone preparing for adventure!

On our way to the 1st stop,

Rainbow Bridge!

Before we could cross

Rainbow Bridge the kids

had to solve a riddle from the

Grumpy Old Troll!

The Riddle:

"Who uses a field journal and is Dora’s cousin?"

Answer: "DIEGO!"

Next Stop: Tico's Tunnel!

"It's way too dark in Tico's tunnel?

What can we use to help us see in the dark?"

Flashlights!

All the kids had miniflashlights in

their backpacks to help crawl

through Tico's Tunnel!

The Birthday Girl going through Tico's Tunnel!

After Tico's Tunel we were at Crocdile Lake!

But wait!

There was a sleeping bear

blocking the crossway!

"What can we use to wake up a sleeping bear? "

"Whistles!"

All the kids found a whistle to blow in

their backpacks

to wake up the sleeping bear!

Everyone blew their whistles on the count of three

and the sleeping bear woke up and jumped away!

(with the help of Jared)

Once the bear was out of the way the

kids careful crossed Crocodile Lake!

After we completed the adventure it was time for

Swiper the Fox to return the birthday pinata!

But where was he?

He ran away!

But we found where

he hid the Pinata!

Pinata Time!!!

The final blow by JohnMark!

Candy!

Our DORA Adventure was over

just in time to open presents!

Isla loves her Dora doll and backpack

Johnna Katherine gave her!

Isla got 6 different Dora dolls!

She loves them all!!!

Nina and Preacher gave her a very

special gift, a cross necklace!

(just like Nina's)

Isla swinging with her new necklace!

Many people came to make

Isla's day special!!!!

Family

Mommy and Daddy

Big Sister Nixon!

Baby Brother, Roman!

(even though he was sick)

Preacher!

Nina!

Gue and Aunt Dee!

Pop!

Uncle Jim and Ellis!

Reid!

Tucker!

Uncle John Ashley and Sara!

Aunt Roxann and Ella!

John Robert!

Aunt Jessi and JennaLeigh!

JohnMark!

Johnna Katherine!

Julianna Marie!

Friends came too!

Our special friends from Troy,

Whitney and William!

(Bryant was there too)

Maggie from church!

Ava from church!

Libby, our Pastor's daughter!

Dio and his sister Valentina from church!

Isla's buddy Brody from church!

Our neighbor Hadley!

Haley, our friend and BIG helper!

We had such a wonderful day eating

with our friends and family!

And playing with our friends and family!

Jules and JK and Reid

Isla and Nixon waiting their turn at the pinata!

Isla and JK playing!

Hadley sliding!

Roman laying on Pop's shoulder.

(he was so sick)

Trying to get a cousin snapshot!

Jules, Nixon, Roman, JL, and JohnMark

JennaLeigh

Cousin Ella!

Reid playing with Nixon and Libby!

Julianna saying Cheese!

Sara and Johnna Katherine giving love!

Nixon giving JK loving!

Kids swinging

Gue and Isla sliding!

Nina with the babies!

Nina and Preacher trying to get a

picture with all the grandkids!

(Isla is missing!)

We had a fabulous fun-filled day!

Isla was out before we even left the parking lot!

(so was her brother!)

Lastly, several snapshots taken of the beautiful

birthday girl throughout the day!

We are so blessed

to have had Isla in

our lives for

the past 3 years!

She is definitely a joy!

We thank God for her each and everyday!