Party Preparations

Since Cody and Jaden's #1 toy is any type of vehicle, and has been that way for quite a few months, choosing their birthday party theme was simple-- cars and trucks! I copied an idea I had seen on Pinterest for the photo on their party invitation.

Grandpa and Grandma were still in town and were wonderful helpers as we were preparing for the party. They came over the night before and assisted with a number of tasks-- Grandma baked the cakes (along with 2 eager helpers),

and Grandpa swept the entire downstairs.

We took a brief intermission for the boys' storytime and bedtime....

...and then finished up a few last minute decorations. Grandma helped me find a spot to hang this happy birthday banner in our new home. (We still love your beautiful homemade gift, Aunt Sarah, and think of you every birthday!)

Grandpa blew up a number of balloons for us, and then I remembered that we had a balloon pump! The rest of the balloon-blowing was much easier. :)

Because we are still so new to the area, we haven't yet made a lot of friend connections. So, our party guest list was solely comprised of family members. Making only two gift bags was quite effortless. 

We filled the bags with games and activities that we did at the party and then this bag of "spare tires," which was simply Oreos and extra doughnuts from the boys' cakes, The label read, "Thanks for sparing some time to come to my party!"

The party was an afternoon affair, so I figured I had plenty of time to assemble and decorate the cakes that morning. As it turns out, the cakes took much longer than expected, but they were (barely) completed before our family arrived! Kim graciously spent the morning at our house to help, while Jason and Matt watched all 5 boys.

I chose to make a school bus and a garbage truck cake since those are the vehicles that Jaden and Cody are most excited about seeing when we're driving around town. We started with the school bus cake which proved to be a bit easier. The cake is made from two loaf pan cakes set atop a wrapped book. Pulling up google images of school buses (Kim's idea) was a huge help when adding the embellishments.

Our second cake was much harder, as it took us quite a while to figure out how to shape the cake to look like a garbage truck. Kim was definitely the brains of the operation in the cake-carving department. In the end, I was really happy with how it turned out.

What a blessing it is to have my sister live close enough now to help with party details!

Here are the final creations.

Happy 3rd birthday to my vehicle-loving boys!