This year Carter invited her friends and family to join her in Candyland...
So we strung up some candy...
And got ready to celebrate the BIG 5...
Everywhere you looked there was candy...
And Carter's very own candy shop...
Including a buffet with all of her favorites...
There were also plenty of other sweets to tempt our guests...
We were so thankful to have so many people we love to share our sugar with!
Carter and her little guests enjoyed bouncing (even though we had some uninvited rain)...
They made the most of the wet weather...
Heck, a little water never hurt anyone...
The slide was a hit...
and so was the GIANT cupcake pinata...
It only took us 45 minutes (and a few adults) to finally bust it open...
And with sugar highs officially in the works we headed inside for cake and ice cream...
But, before we dug in, we sang to the birthday girl (Carter and her buddies Corbin, Hudson, and Jaden)...
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you...
I was loving the sweet look on her face...
as everyone gave it their all and wished her a happy fifth...
MAKE A WISH...
I know mine had already come true, in spite of the rain it was a wonderful evening...
And as everyone headed home we sent them on their way with some candy from the buffet...
and these boxes for the kiddo's (I thought a toothbrush for the sugar bugs was the least I could do)...
Oh, I almost forgot, at some point there was a frenzy of paper flying and presents were opened...
Carter tried on one of her new gifts and sent her guests out the door in royal fashion...
Of course we had one very tired little princess after the party was over. As I laid down beside her for a few minutes that night it hit me that this was the fifth time we've done this. I can remember each party so vividly...
Which is why it is a bit hard to believe that we have already reached number 5! But, now we have a new photo to add to our collection (with a sweet little sister who celebrated with us for the first time)...

We love you Carter and can't wait to see what the year ahead holds!