The morning had a rough start; the kind where you dread how the rest of the day is going to go. And since guests would be arriving for my little boy’s 3rd birthday party shortly before lunch, I was worried.
But I’m happy to say things turned around.
Even though the cake was falling apart (I should have put it in the freezer before icing it!), it all worked out – after all, it was a construction cake! (Last year’s was a car cake – see a theme?)
Monkey got to open presents from Mommy, Daddy, and big sister before the party festivities began. He loved the pirate ship! (A super great find at a consignment shop – all parts there and an extra set of pirate sea animals all for 6 bucks!)
Thinking back to what I learned from a birthday party, the kids and I had colored and cut out construction trucks from coloring books earlier this week to use in a craft/game when the party started while we waited for all the guests to arrive.
The activity?
Help decorate for the party!
I was kept plenty busy sticking tape on the back of pictures for little ones to stick anywhere they wanted – cabinets, doors, walls, lamp shades… They did a great job decorating! (Little ones love anything having to do with tape, and when they feel they are really helping, all the better!)
Once all the guests arrived it was time for lunch. (Thank you to my husband, who cooked out in the rain!) And, of course, more presents… I have to say he loved everything he got.
A friend of mine sent up a tool bench, complete with all its original tools, that her sons no longer use. And with it, was this handy-dandy little number…
That, dear readers, is a toy blow torch. No kidding – who would have guessed that there is such a thing??? It lights up, makes an obnoxious noise, and vibrates. What more could a 3 year-old little boy want?
Cake!
Yes, being 3 today did not make him any more patient than when he was 2. It was definitely cake time.
I want to send a big shout out to a friend of mine who helped keep kids entertained and wiped black icing from my son’s fingers when I sat down to try a piece of the cake. Everyone needs someone like that at their kid’s birthday party!
Finally, after everyone went home and dinner was done, it was time for bed.
My big 3 year-old asked me to rock him. How could I resist? I rocked him for a while and sang some old favorites. Then he climbed into bed and fell asleep holding on to the sleeve of my pajamas while I stroked his hair and hummed his lullaby.
That, dear reader, was the perfect ending to the day.
