Grady's 3rd Birthday Party

Posted on Nov. 24, 2009 at 1:48 PM - Post Comment

Grady's third birthday party was a big success! The weather turned out to be absolutely beautiful - not just OK, but really nice. It was in the upper 60's to lower 70's with not a cloud in the sky :) Some people wore shorts it was so nice. Anyway, Grady took a super long nap before the party (had to wake him up after 2.5 hours because the party was about to begin) so he was in a great mood and just had so much fun! The look on his face when he saw the big train in front of the house was priceless! All of the kids loved the trackless train and rode the thing endlessly for the full hour they were there. They took the kids (and adults that wanted to go) all around our neighborhood. They even let Grady sit up with the driver and blow the horn and ring the bell one time through. After the train left the kids transitioned to the backyard and did the train craft (building wooden train engines). The boys seemed to love building and the girls loved decorating :)  The food all turned out good, and after eating we did the pinata. After that, the kids played in the yard with the sandbox and climber for a bit. Then it was time for cake and ice cream. Grady just loved being sung to and got the candles out on the first try. It was so nice outside and such a fun time that most people stayed until it was getting dark outside.  We didn't mind at all!  Then we headed inside and let Grady open his gifts.  Thank you so much to everyone who came to the party - it really meant so much to Grady and to me.  It was especially nice that Nana, Papa, Grandpa Bruce, and Grammy Pat all made the long trip down here from Massachusetts!

First, a quick picture of Grady getting his very first bike! We went to the bike shop downtown to pick it up the night before his party. He was very excited and rode it out of the shop. Then he wanted to ride it from the bike shop to the restaurant where we ate dinner. We actually let him, even though it was sort of far.  He loves it!  Thank you to Nana and Papa!

Now for the party pictures...  First, all of the decor and everything - this is the food table, before we put out the chili. I wish I got a close-up of the lunch bags for the kids. I made a cute little sticker that had a train and said what was in them. I also made all of the little flags that are on the fronts of the tables.

my train cake - I spent about 4 hours on it and finally just said "good enough!"

The bar - Grandpa Carl made the name train and mailed it to Grady

This is where we did the craft where the kids built and decorated their own train engines. Grandpa Jim made all of the signs that matched. There were 4 total - one said "All Aboard" and was right where the kids got on the train, one said "Dining Car" and was on the door to the screen porch where the food was, and the other two are pictured.

the centerpieces - they had train lollipops and then the wood stars with the "3"; the wooden trains were the weights for the balloons; and those are the runners I made

One of 3 kid tables

Here are the favors close-up - a hat, wooden train whistle, and CD that I burned with kids train songs. We also had train music (kid and adult) playing on our outdoor speakers throughout the party.

some of the tables with balloons

"Check In" table - people left gits there and signed a wooden train plaque for Grady's wall

On to actual party pictures! Grady first of 4 rides on the train

when he got to help drive

Working on his train - notice the little popcorn next to him? The kids all loved those so much!

party in full swing

Grandpa Bruce and Pat:

we did a pull-string pinata towards the end of the party

enjoying cake!

opening gifts inside later

and just one last picture of Grady and Grandpa Bruce sitting together watching Cars on Monday before they had to go home

And a few videos... Grady riding his new bike out of the store

The birthday train coming back to the station

Everyone singing to Grady

I'll do a 3 year update on Grady once he actually turns three!