"It takes a village to raise a child" well sort of....

Steve and I decided to go BIG for Hayden's 3rd Birthday. One because he missed out on his 2nd birthday with the passing of Chase and 2ndly because his parents are crazy.

Birthday boy enjoying the water slide.

party favors

"decorate your cupcake station"

'lettuce wraps'

'panko fried shrimp'

'build your own sundae station'

'bacon wrapped quail'

'popcorn chicken'

'twice baked potatoes'

I must admit at times I felt pressured to get this all together, but pleasantly surprised how hands-on Steve was with everything.... 2 AM ribbon cutting and glueing, folding of decorative papers, planning of pool games, and soooo much more.

Sorry for all of the barking, honey. Couldn't have done any of this without you :)

But I have to also thank all of my other magical elves.

Tina and Cindy for helping me with the grocery shopping and prepping all of the foods in weee hours of the night

nieces and nephews (Vivienne, Haley, & Jordan) for cutting/pasting cupcake labels & putting together Hayden's thank you bags

Mylinh (a good friend) for making Hayden's delicious cupcakes and to-die-for frosting

Tulan for helping with more arts and crafts

Tony (Tulan's husband) for de-veining and butterflying the endless of shrimp (this from a man who doesn't even boil water)

Barry and his new girlfriend Thuy for battering all of the shrimp, making my centerpiece, transporting all of the stuff to the pool, photography skills and more arts and crafts. Poor girl didn't know what she was walking into...

Chi Thu for making the paper flowers, enduring the never-ending frying of shrimp, picking up of more food & supplies, and making Hayden's WONDERFUL & ORIGINAL party hat

and all of our loving friends and family who helped set things up, clean up after the party, and MOST OF ALL....... BE A PART OF HAYDEN'S 3RD BIRTHDAY.

more pics here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/ThuyMTran/HaydenS3rdBday#

http://chrisdinh.smugmug.com/Family/Haydens-3rd-Birthday/13154311_8NzEW#954204826_V7Nhu

Happy Birthday to my love.... you make life sooooo worth it!