A few months ago
Marta came up with the brain child of having a Cousins Carnival with light night movies, light sticks, and smores.
She went and had a baby and somehow didn't get around to throwing the carnival....I love fall, and I constantly feel like I'm a boring mom - so I decided to take Marta's carnival idea and run with it.
You know in the movie You've Got Mail when Tom Hanks takes his aunt and his brother to the carnival in New York City? That is the feel I wanted....except my backyard isn't New York...and I'm not a millionaire who lives at on 152nd Street or his yacht.
But here was my attempt at our first annual Cousin's Carnival. It was so much fun to plan and a lot of work, but so worth it. Everyone pitched in to help with games and food. Marta even spent a full day at my house helping me get everything in order and ready. Mike even got into the action hanging lights on the back patio and helping me clean up the yard.
We had games stationed and prizes for each game. The kids got a bag at the beginning of the carnival to hold all their prizes in. They took home glow sticks, cotton candy bags, and caramel corn. With some trinkets and prizes. SO MUCH FUN!
So here you have it - the Carnival in pictures. PICTURE HEAVY!!!!
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| Whit put together the pumpkin balloon game |
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| Cotton Candy/Popcorn popping station |
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| Jake and Benji |
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| Jake, Benji, Dylan and Sam |
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| Marta and Baby Seth (love this pic!) |
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| Quilts for story time Halloween themed of course |
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| My excuse to buy fall flowers |
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| Table - Pinterest inspired food |
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| Amy made these cute Frankenstein puddings! |
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| Mummy juice boxes |
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| What is a party without apple dip? |
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| Halloween banner - added so much! |
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| Guess how many in the jar game |
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| kids throwing darts at the balloon game - they loved this! |
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| Jake holding a dollar - Whit added some money in just like Grandpa Jiggs use to do |
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| Amy made this cute bean bag toss. SO CUTE! and the cute pumpkins to throw |
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| Sam at the plinko board |
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| Oma and Kate eating some cotton candy |
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| Miles at the bean bag toss |
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| Grama Polly's cookie decorating station |
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| Apple Cider bar |
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| Tattoo station |
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| Cotton Candy making |
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| Wrap the mummy |
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| Sam being shy |
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| Story time |
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| Oma's old lady who live in a shoe doll |
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| how did Dylan get in there? |
Best part of the carnival - Tuesday morning when Jake woke up, the first thing he said to me was "Mom, yesterday was the best day ever!"
Makes all the hard work worth it.
