A Very Choo Choo Birthday

At the end of April, our little future choo choo train engineer turned the big 3.  We celebrated on the day of his birthday, but his big party wasn't until Sunday, May 4th.  Perhaps we should have done a Star Wars theme that day since it seems May the fourth has become some kind of a Star Wars holiday or so I've heard.  (Something about it sounding like "May the force" be with you.) But for this little choo choo train lover, only a super cool train party would do.  My Gym seemed like the obvious choice for location since all the other preschool parties we have attended this year have been there, but we thought Gymboree Play and Music offered more options for a train party.  I think all the kids enjoyed the change of scenery too.  Brody loved being the star of the show or the lead engine on the choo choo train.

On Brody's birthday, we enjoyed pizza together at a favorite restaurant and some birthday cupcakes, of course.  Our waitress went a little overboard with the candles for a 3 year old.  We bought a dozen cupcakes because we thought the cousins might join us, but they had a prior engagement.  Our waitress had taken the cupcakes to put in their fridge while we ate and then brought them out with candles on all of them.  Haha!   We let the waitress and staff have the extra cupcakes.  

He needed Mommy to help him accomplish the task of blowing out all of the candles.  Do you get extra wishes for blowing out more candles than your birthday age?  Maybe you should.  Ha!

Almost done. 

Brody enjoyed a yummy chocolate one.  He actually never eats a whole cupcake though. 

What a cute little chocolate face!  Isn't he looking so big these days?  

He got to pick out a little gift at Target for his actual birthday.  After careful thinking, he decided on this big dump truck and hard hat. 

Little digger

The outtakes from the birthday photo session.  I saved mucho dinero this year making his birthday shirt with iron-on transfer paper.  He loves his choo choo shirt!  He is actually not a fan of Thomas, but that was the only train balloon available at Party City.  We added the Mickey balloon since that is his newest obsession. 

He actually had a train engineer hat to wear but that lasted all of 3 seconds. 

The birthday cupcakes with toppers made by Mommy, of course. 

I also made a little train banner and used our colorful toy bins for the food with paper wheels to look like train cars.  The snacks were very simple, including some Goldfish crackers, Teddy Grahams, and chips.  

Gymboree doesn't do chairs in their party rooms which I guess makes sense since it is usually a hassle to get the kids to stay seated anyway.  They actually do really well standing around the table. 

And some cute favor bags with homemade thank you labels. 

I loved the little wind up trains and wooden train whistles and just added some sweet treats and punch balloons. 

It's Play Time!

Brody begins the party shooting some hoops. 

Brody's school friends, Sammy, William, Quinny, Miles, Liam, and Sullivan, had a great time playing together.  This is likely the last birthday party of the school year. 

Brody started the train activities with a walk on the choo choo engine and a jump into the smoke stack. 

Big brother Evan was there to catch him at the end. 

Cousins Reade and Cate enjoyed the train walk too.

Friends Quinny, Sully, Kyndall, Liam, Sammy and William all had a great time.

One more train walk for the birthday boy.

Cousin Grady just loved this fun place to play. 

And watching all the big kids playing.

Playing the maracas to the music. 

Brody led the choo choo train around the room and under the bridge.

He is just getting so independent now. 

Brody's friend, Parth, also enjoyed the fun.

Wow, this was a full boat!  

Playing with my big birthday boy.

They tried to make this game "train" related by saying the little shapes were pieces of coal that the kids had to pick up and put on the ball.  Then the instructor picked up the ball and dropped it on the floor making the shapes scatter and fall. The kids just laughed and laughed as she did it multiple times. 

Brody and his pal, William, playing on the slide.  I'm not sure what Brody was doing lying on his belly, but I think William was getting impatient for him to go down the slide. 

Grady and I enjoyed watching the kids catch the bubbles on the parachute. 

So I know why Gymboree bubbles are so popular.  Those things do not pop!  They are like made of glue or something.  Ha!

Brody loved catching the bubbles.  We all had bubbles sticking in our hair. 

He loves bubbles, but what kid doesn't?  I am really thinking of buying a colorful parachute.  I don't know what I will do with it, but I just love the bright colors!

Getting ready to sing Happy Birthday under the parachute.

Brody loved making "bubbles" with the parachute.  And doesn't it look like Brody has a twin sister beside him (cousin Cate)?

Camera man Daddy did not get under the parachute so he had the interesting perspective from outside. 

Parachutes make seriously happy kids. 

Time for Cake!

Wearing his party hat. 

I love that almost all the kids wore the party hats.   If I ever buy party hats, nobody puts them on.  Ha!

What a cute bunch of kids. 

Sweet Cate is ready for cake. 

The cousins all enjoy the snacks. 

Brody prepares to blow out his candle. 

I hope he made a good wish!

He isn't a really messy eater and usually insists on wiping his face right away if he gets messy so getting even this little icing picture is hard to do. 

I love that kids this age eat cake in so many different ways.  Some eat the icing only, some eat the cake only, and some devour the whole thing. 

Trying to capture a group photo turned out to be a bit of an ordeal. 

Grady definitely did not want to cooperate, and Lanny tried his best to hold him. 

This is probably the best one although not everyone is in it.  Lanny and Grady are the only cousins represented. 

Presents!

Brody really racked up so many great presents, and he is so thankful to all his friends.  

He loves this new Lego set. 

A talking Mickey was also a big favorite!

We think Mr. Brody felt very special with all of his birthday celebrations this year!