Tommy's 2nd Birthday

Well, the big party for Tommy happened over the weekend. I'm still kind of recovering as it was a lot of work to get it going and to tear it all down and clean up. But all of it was worth my time and effort as my son will always be one of my most favorite people in the world to celebrate and throw a party for.

I had seen these birthday banners over and over again in Pinterest and decided I could totally make one. After all, it's just scrapbook paper and ribbon. Which is true, yet it was incredibly time consuming. It turned out incredibly cute though. And I packed it away carefully as I'm kind of hoping that at some point in the next ten years or so, I can at least use it one more time!
I got the idea for the big #2 also from Pinterest. I took an old poster frame we had in the garage and covered it in wrapping paper. And then just used tissue paper to create the #2. It was a cheap and easy project and I loved how it turned out. I also found these cute beach ball cups to give out to the kids as the party favors. Though I unfortunately forgot to distribute most of them!
About 1:00 in the afternoon, three hours before the party was going to start, I began to panic about how on earth we were going to fit everyone in the house and where on earth people were going to eat. Especially all of the kids. I had to completely rearrange everything I was going to do and ended up making a birthday table for the kids (well at least six of them) to sit at and eat. My "centerpiece" was supposed to go somewhere else so it feels small for the table, but I think it turned out pretty cute. I just used gumballs and a few windmills I found at Hobby Lobby.
And balloons and streamers always make festive decor, not to mention, they are budget friendly! Originally, I had planned to suspend a bunch of beach balls from the ceiling. However, I didn't anticipate how heavy they would be and we couldn't find anything to keep them suspended without them coming down.
More fun in the sun decor.
It's quite convenient working for an advertising/printing company. They made a banner for Tommy's birthday last year, and so graciously made us another one this year as well. I love how it turned out!
My pride and joy of the party (other than my awesome two year old) were my cupcakes. I found the idea online and decided I could totally make them.
I used graham cracker crumbs for the "sand," dyed the frosting blue and used round peppermints for "beach balls." And the little umbrellas fit perfectly. I also found some fun cupcake wrappers at Hobby Lobby.
Yes, I was quite proud of my cupcake creations!
We set everything up outside for the little kids to go swimming in some portable pools. I set out sunscreen and towels in hopes to minimize some of the things the parents would need to bring for their kids to change from bathing suits to dry clothes after the swimming was done.
Tommy woke up from his nap right before the party started and was very excited to go "swimming in the bubbles" as he calls it.

Inside, we served up hot dogs and hamburgers. And amazingly enough, everyone ate and had a place to somehow eat their food.
I was half expecting Tommy to start crying when we all sang him Happy Birthday again. We had buckets of tears last year when the whole chorus broke out in song. But he cuddled up to his Oma and smiled while we all sang to him. I think it helped singing "Happy Birthday" to him for a week straight!

Then it was time to eat the fun beachy cupcakes. Tommy said to me, "I lubbs cu-cakes!" He didn't care for the frosting - I think mostly because he hates having things stick to his fingers.
But he ate them right up!
Took a few pictures with my family!
The "Dollie" pose....
Gift opening time was awesome. Though he wanted everything taken out of the box immediately so he could play with it right then. Tommy got a lot of really fun things for his birthday and I'm still trying to find a place to put everything! He is one very loved little boy.
This picture isn't the best of it, but he got a stuffed Clifford the Big Red Dog from my friend Mal, who is also his most favorite babysitter. He absolutely adores her and they have the best of times playing together. And instead of calling Clifford, Clifford, he has started calling him, "Red Mal." He knows she gave it to him and he calls him by her name - SO precious! He also insists on sleeping with the Red Mal now in addition to his bear.Tiffany came in for Tommy's party. He affectionately refers to her as "Tippy," which is kind of the most adorable thing in entire world. But she got him this massive playhut/tent/crazy-huge- wonderland-that-takes-up-my-entire-living-room-toy.
And he loves it! As you can tell by the look of utter JOY on his face.
I think Tippy wins for the best present ever. (By the way, it's super easy to put up and take down so it won't take up that much of our living room on a regular basis!
"I lubbs tents!" I love how he declares his love for so many things.

Oh, what a happy boy!
One of the other awesome things he got for his birthday, was a Mater Tow-Truck that my parents gave him. It actually drives and makes sounds, though he kind of starts freaking out when Mater starts talking or making truck noises. But he loves to drive around in his truck and it's so much fun to have one! So I now have a tow-truck parked in my living room. I think this is why people have playrooms.
So the party is over and done. Everything is packed away and Tommy's birthday is complete.
And I'm not kidding when I'm saying I already have a few ideas up my sleeve for next year's party theme. One can never start planning a party too early.