Stop the Traffic, Clear the Road! Charles is Turning 5 Years Old!

Charles chose the location (beach!) and theme of his party this year. It wasn't a forced choice, either! While we love hosting parties in our home, having a beach party worked well because our house was still not repaired after a slab leak in February. I was worried the party would be too rushed, but he stayed, playing in the sand, until after 5pm! That's over 6 hours of playtime, allowing us to visit more with a few guests who stayed longer. The city of Newport Beach allowed us to reserve two picnic tables, which were shaded. There was also a nice tree for the pinata and a nautical-themed playground just steps away. Oh, and the best part? No waves! The beach faced inland so there are never any waves or rip-currants to worry about.

• What People Ate

  We kept it simple, with a fruit tray, meat and cheese tray, pizza, and cupcakes.

• What People Drank

  Alcohol is not permitted at the beach, so we definitely didn't have that.

• Desserts

  Cupcakes

• Party Favors

  Each child received a small construction vehicle and Hershey bar with a personalized wrapper.

• Activities / Games

  The children were spread out between the playground and beach area, so the only structured activity was the pinata, which was a huge hit. Charles played "Huggy-wuggy" toward the end, something he plays on the playground.

• Stella was a lifesaver, offering to meet us in the parking lot and carry things to the tables, and also help set up!

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