Several months ago I had made up my mind that we were keeping Cooper's birthday party VERY simple this year, as Big Mama would be 7 months pregnant at the time (in the heat of the summer). My plan was to do a party at Chick-Fil-A because 1) it's one of the few places where Cooper actually eats, 2) they have a great indoor playground so we wouldn't have to worry about the weather, and 3) who doesn't love Chick-Fil-A (actually my dad doesn't...)?! My plan was to get kids' meals for the little ones and then trays of chicken nuggets, fruit, cole slaw, etc. for the adults. Easy peasy! But then we went to a birthday party at the first of June for a boy from Cooper's class. It was a choo-choo party at a park complete with a conductor and train, pizza, chips, and a pull-apart train cake. It looked easy enough, not to mention Cooper never stopped talking about this party. I ran the idea of copying the party by Karl, and he looked at me like I was crazy. August weather is very different from June 1st weather. It's hot and thunderstorms love to pop up out of nowhere. Not to mention I would be very pregnant, and we don't know what my pregnancies are going to be like several weeks in advance. What if I was on bed rest? What if it rained? What would Plan B be? Where would we do this? What about a bathroom? Very valid points. All of which I knocked down too. This is what my little man wanted, and it was just going to have to work. No Plan B. We decided to have his party at his beloved "choo-choo park" (a park close by that has a stationary, jungle-gym type train) and to copy every other detail from the original birthday party. We had the same man come dressed as a conductor with his train, and we had chips, sliced watermelon, pizza delivered to the park, a pull-apart train cake from Publix, extra mini-cupcakes, juice boxes, water, and soft drinks. I ordered all the decorations and toys for the party favors from Party City when I had a good coupon, so everything was pretty easy. When Karl and I got to the park to set up, it was misting, but the temperature was very nice. I selfishly prayed off the rain, and thankfully God postponed the rain until the very end of the party as everyone was getting ready to leave. Talk about perfect timing! The temperature stayed pleasant, the bugs weren't bad at all, and the rain held off. The light occasional mist and cloudiness actually worked to our benefit because it kept others away from the park. It was wonderful!
When Cooper got there, he was so excited! We had talked about his choo-choo birthday party for over a month, and he could not wait to get his party started!
Then the choo-choo man arrived with his train that blows steam, has a whistle, and plays music!
Alex and Will
(Can you tell they're used to getting their picture made?! As soon as I walked up with the camera, they were posed and smiling!)
My boys
Sweet Ellis
It was not just for children!
Lauren and Andrew were good sports and rode too!
As did Taren and Wade!
Ellis got his mama to ride...
...and his daddy!
Will, Alex, and their mama Brooke
My Super Cooper and brother Nicholas
Cooper and Maddux
Daddy even rode in the caboose all by himself!
There was also a lot of socializing and playground time!
After some delicious pizza (that was delivered hot and right on time!!), it was time for cake!
This cake (and the two choo-choos on top) were the highlight of the party for Cooper. He could not wait to get those trains off his cake!
This picture cracks me up! I love how ready Ellis is for his bite and how stuffed Cooper's cheeks are from his bite!
It was a great afternoon of celebrating our sweet 3 year old! After the party, we chugged on home to open his presents. This mama was out of steam by then, so I didn't get any pictures, but he did love everything he got and made sure to wake up ridiculously bright and early the next morning so he could resume playing with each and every thing!
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