When I started planning for his party (and I say "planning loosely, since I rarely actually "plan" for a party), we were kind of in house limbo, so I decided not to have B's party at our house. Brayden's always had a fondness for swimming, and he seemed to have such a fun time at Connor's birthday party last year that we decided to rent out the pool at a local community center this year for B's. It did not disappoint.
Here's the invitation I made and sent out to our friends:
![superbrayden_2](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5280/7092333633_c114a64e0f_z.jpg)
![superbrayden_3](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5460/6946268194_6f0f9eaa6d_z.jpg)
Connor was not much of a fan of the water and was more content sitting out and watching the action.
![superbrayden_5](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5461/7092345017_61d25abcb3_z.jpg)
![superbrayden_4](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5031/7092340459_51bcfc0f4e_z.jpg)
I think he was showing me his muscles
![superbrayden_7](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7091/7092351405_e6af4187d0_z.jpg)
Brayden with his "best friends" Avery and Paige
![superbrayden_11](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5453/6946294306_274b318240_z.jpg)
I just have to say, I have the best friends. Drew was busy with Connor and I had wanted to take pics for a few minutes at the beginning of the party, so my friend Katie took B down the slide. I know this pic is blurry, but I LOVE it. Look at their faces-- such fun!!!
![superbrayden_15](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7253/6946302774_0ed3db83fd_z.jpg)
![superbrayden_16](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7215/7092375745_66eda814e1_z.jpg)
Drew and the baby boy. Connor clung to Drew like this the entire 20 minutes they were in the pool
![superbrayden_17](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7228/7092379845_503dac088b_z.jpg)
Katie and Paige
![superbrayden_18](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5198/6946313802_538f7b5704_z.jpg)
Parker with his Daddy
![superbrayden_21](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5332/6946323072_1f2033320f_z.jpg)
Addison and Payton
It was baby Cooper's first time in the pool... he wasn't quite sure of the water either.
![superbrayden_23](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7057/6946329528_593aa7b5a3_z.jpg)
Laci and her daddy
![superbrayden_24](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7045/7092402903_edaf7f1af1_z.jpg)
Again, best friends in the world here-- Andrea's kids didn't want to go down so she went by herself. Hilarious!
![superbrayden_25](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/6946335876_d7034cfcc6_z.jpg)
My little swimming super hero, goggles and all
![superbraydenandmomma](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5196/6946534498_3cb70e6b48_z.jpg)
I actually got in a picture! Love my little 3 year old!
After swimming we headed upstairs to eat lunch. Brayden requested pizza (of course he did), so we had lots of it. And we also had lots of kids.
![superbrayden_26](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5239/6946339068_2987509b1f_z.jpg)
I think someone said they counted 23 kids. All are 5 years old and under. Chaos. But it was fun!
![superbrayden_27](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5453/6946342512_e11497f00f_z.jpg)
This cutie fell asleep while he and daddy went to get pizza with Granddad. And he stayed asleep almost the rest of the party.
![superbrayden_29](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7067/7092418935_11e3eb2d22_z.jpg)
Daddy with the silly birthday goober
![superbrayden_8](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7092355791_8db40590a2_z.jpg)
We had superman cupcakes (yellow with a superman ring on top) and then a superman cupcake cake. All came from the Walmart bakery. They were delicious, and I think the cupcake cake came out SO cute!
![superbrayden_30](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7081/7092422911_3ece22243a_z.jpg)
![superbrayden_33](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5200/7092434287_7af26daa5d_z.jpg)
![superbrayden_35](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7083/7092441725_c97ecfff3c_z.jpg)
![superbrayden_39](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/7092455273_5325eb6550_z.jpg)
New fave picture of him.
![superbrayden_40](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5338/7092460817_507e4a355c_z.jpg)
I took Superman off of the cupcakes and Brayden told me he wanted to have him. But when I started wiping him off B said "NO! I want to lick him off!" ahahaha. I have created another icing addict I'm afraid :)
![superbrayden_42](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7242/7092470749_2aeb9e5cd3_z.jpg)
lip lickin' good
![superbrayden_43](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7118/7092474233_d9f774701d_z.jpg)
![superbrayden_44](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5335/7092478509_e4eb1572d4_z.jpg)
![superbrayden_46](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7094/7092485671_8f468fcf05_z.jpg)
Cooper just took it all in. Love him!
![superbrayden_47](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7071/6946420850_b8d40e6209_z.jpg)
At one point I looked over and Brayden was doing this. I asked him what he was doing and he looked up and said "I'm making a mess." (a)atleast he's honest (b) for the first time in my life I didn't freak out and just let him have fun. You only get one third birthday party, right? :)
![superbrayden_50](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5332/7092503519_f0e50cfa0a_z.jpg)
![superbrayden_53](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7280/6946438950_483b63a74e_z.jpg)
We gave bubbles to the kids as party favors. I had this label printed out (I designed it also), and then had Drew help me cut them out and attach to the bubbles with ribbon.
![superbrayden_54](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/6946441596_677a67ddec_z.jpg)
Jon-Jon
![superbrayden_56](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5238/7092515951_957a901b6c_z.jpg)
At the end of the party he spent a good deal of time running. Doesn't he look SO grown up in this picture?
![superbrayden_57](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5071/6946448580_d4070f634c_z.jpg)
We decided to forego opening presents at the party. We were running short on time and it just becomes even more chaotic. So we let B open presents over a 3 day period. I really like doing this because it allows us to regulate him just tearing through everything and not really soaking in what he's gotten. It also helps promote gratefulness :)
![superbrayden_60](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5340/7092526109_fc350f7866_z.jpg)
His sword. Which he has now deemed as "my sword that I got to hit Connor with". Perfect. (please note the sarcasm in my "voice")