A VERY Special Birthday For Kialaia

Kialaia's birthday this year was extra special for a couple reasons. First of all, last Sunday after church we went over to Paul's parents house to go swimming... and when we got there we were greeted by Paul's sister Alison who was here for an overnight trip from California. Uncle Chris couldn't make it because he was at a wedding back home. But we were so happy to see "Aunt Ali"! Kialaia and Aunti Ali getting ready to open her presents.

The second thing that made her birthday so special this year was, well - she's 5!!! She had some friends come over for her "Cinderella Birthday Party". They ate pizza and went swimming in our Olympic size pool.

Kia and her friends; Morgan, Mackenzie, Delaney, and Gracie
After cake and ice cream, and of course presents, we headed out to the garage for the annual beating of the pinata. This one was a princess crown (of course).
After my nephews had their turn at beating the thing it eventually fell to the ground and the mad dash for the inexcusable amounts of candy began. Then it was time for fireworks. This was Paul's very safe sparkler line-up. Wasn't it just last year we were buying fireworks that you had to sign a little form that said we weren't going to light them off in Idaho....???
One of my test shots with the firework mode set on my new camera - not too bad!

Okay, but here is the 3rd and final reason that Kia's birthday was so special... one of the perks to having a daddy who is a Firefighter now! So as we gathered the kids onto the front lawn we heard this strange noise and saw this beastly creature coming down the road - and then the sirens and lights started going and we knew it must be...

Daddy's co-workers!!! I also had a picture of them spraying the girls but I accidentally deleted it. But Kia wasn't in it anyways because she freaked out and ran to the house saying she didn't want to get wet... as she dripped from her pool... Anyway, the other kids had a blast (no pun intended).
Then they let each kid spray the hose. Kialaia refused to do it without Paul helping, and even then she was putting on her shy act. But the other kids (including some neighborhood kids who had joined in by now) had fun spraying the hose. Some of them even put a Firefighter hat on and everything. I wish I had gotten a picture of the guys drenching Paul, but it happened too fast.
This is our shy girl look. For anyone who knows her, you know it's a huge ACT! She is so not shy!
Well, I got to give her credit - she did get up into the truck all by herself. Finally.

There are plenty more pics to post of our birthday present to Ki - a room makeover - but it will have to wait because I've got to run and get Bradley picked up from his week at Church Camp! Happy 4th of July everyone!