So I stole this umbrella kabob idea from my friend, Jaime.  Eventually... chips, dip, and goldfish made their way into the bowl, and blue punch with sea creatures and sea foam (ice cream.)

Oh, there it is.  And look who is ready to feast.  It's that blonde boy again.

I'm kind of a control freak about the first to arrive (and/or my own kids) getting bored and messing up the prices before the game begins, so I always have them painting or doing something right when they arrive.  It pacifies the chemical disorders, you know?  Don't want any of those attending the party!

We also had "Go Fish" going on with lots of prizes from Target's 1$ aisle, which happened to have TONS of Ariel stuff- MONEY!  (And I do mean money... one dollar items add up, if you know what I mean...)

This was the HIT of the party.  You have to do it if you haven't already.  Nothing like getting a prize for doing absolutely nothing at all.  I do recommend not stationing your Go Fish booth under the direct sunlight.  If that were to happen, you would find yourself melting into a puddle and fanning yourself with the toys like the poor woman trapped stationed behind this booth. Julie was an awesome friend to sit and indicate who was fishing so I- I mean the fish, the FISH didn't give repeat prizes...

Even the little ones enjoy this game.  This poor child is going to be one of those nerds with taped glasses, I just know it...

See the joy on Julie's face?  She's totally faking it.  She is burning up in this shot, BURNING ALIVE...  but such a good friend.

We also played "Diving for Dinglehoppers," fished for floating bags of Swedish fish from an inflated turtle, and dove for mermaid  hair (washcloths) to put on our head in order to pick a prize from a treasure box.  Good times.  Nothing like getting carried away with your party theme.

What's this little girl so proud about? It's like she thinks she's the birthday girl or something.  Sheesh.

Look at her...

Just glowing with her grandmother.

Why, may I ask, does her face take on this miserable look when sitting with her own mother?

Look at her- she can't wait to get away from me and get her party on!  Do you have any idea what this party planning did to me, cost me, little girl?!!  Show some respect!

The cake that Publix made.  The cake that I so carefully left inside till the last minute so it would not melt in the Florida heat, the cake that I so carefully was carrying outside when my mother and I collided.  See that little yellow umbrella?  Publix didn't put that there.  See the hunk of cake missing behind it?  All over my arm.

Oh look at that, now she smiles.  All it took was a little cake to make her love me again.

When all the guests had gone home, Honey taught synchronized swimming lessons.

Nothing like a bit of synchronized swimming to wrap up the day.  

You can almost watch her grow, can't you?

It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it.

Who better than a mermaid?