Thomas The Tank Engine Birthday

the table setting using pre-existing toys to decorate

red presents were requested

even little brother was shocked by the balloons 

a pretend camping set was this years pick it came with a pretend swiss army knife. He was in heaven 

books are always a present must 

my first real attempt at cake making. 

my parents Skyping during the cake cutting. Also note the fact that W spilled water on his back, a talent he alone is able to do. The front of his shirt was totally dry. 

I think my cake made the cut

As I mentioned before I gave up on avoiding an actual character birthday especially since Bear has been asking for a "Thomas cake" since the talk of his birthday even started. His love for trains has not yet subsided and for the second year in a row a train birthday was requested. (you can see his last birthday based on  1,2,3, to the Zoo HERE).

Since we just moved and don't know very many people here yet I wanted to make our family birthday extra special but knew I didn't want to spend a lot on decorations since it was just going to be us. I asked Bear if he had any special request and slowly the list grew. Here are a few  things he mentioned.

1. pancakes
2.red presents
3.a Thomas Cake
4.balloons
5. shapes on the wall

Although the last item left me a little confused the list seemed manageable enough that I was able to fulfill the whole list. The night before husband blew up a ton of balloons and we lined the hallway and living room with them for a morning surprise. The shapes on the wall I translated to triangle bunting, strawberry pancakes were made first thing in the morning and  his presents were all wrapped in red paper. I even tried my hand at making a bake from scratch using THIS recipe. Frosting isn't easy as I expected but I added a few trains to the top and some sprinkles and it seemed to make the birthday boy very happy.

The "party" was split in two. The morning was opening presents and a pancake breakfast before papa left to work and when papa came home we ate hamburgers (per the birthday boys request) and cut the cake. We even had my parents Skype while he blew out his candles. I love technology. Overall I think he had a great day full of love and a whole lot of attention. Calls from relatives came in at different times of the day and it made me realize just how loved these boys are despite the physical distance between them and family.

The best part for me was that since we based his party on something he already owns decorations were practically free. Besides the bunting and plates everything used were things we already had. The track on the table, the trains used as cake toppers were all toys we owned. It just goes to show how resourceful you can be while still making something look cute and festive. Now to start prepping for Wolf's birthday which is next month.