Click on the photo above to view all the photos from Lexi's train party.
So I definitely did not plan on throwing Lexi a *friend* party for her birthday this year, but she went to a party back in October and has been talking about what her party would be like ever since. She would draw a picture and state, "I'm drawing this for my party, mom!" or make something with her playdoh and say, "This is for my party." So I just did not want to let her down. We talked about it together and she decided she wanted to have a train party- which was a good decision considering most of her friends are boys! So we went downtown and bought a special stamp to make invitations, went to the party store and bought plates, napkins, cups, a pinata, and balloons and I figured out a few things to do to pass the time.
It turned out really well, I think. Our *mixer* activity while everyone was arriving was to set up the train tracks and play with the trains... that kept everyone very occupied and happy for quite some time. I was a little nervous to ask them to clean it up, but Lexi was anxious to get on to other activities that she knew we had planned. To my utter astonishment, there was not a single word of complaint when we asked the kids to clean up! Thomas even started singing the "Clean Up Song" that they sing in Nursery at church- those Nursery leaders are stupendous!
After cleaning up, we read "The Little Engine That Could" and I could not believe how enraptured they all were with the story. Side note: Hats off to all those elementary teachers who can read upside down & backwards! I found myself kind of making it up as I went along because I was having a hard time reading...
Then we had everyone decorate a box which we then made a train with- everyone in their own car, and Porter as the Engineer! Thanks to Sheridan, Jessica & Julia who really came through for me and provided the boxes on one day's notice!
After the train, we had cake (also following the train theme) but I have had some trouble uploading that video so stay tuned, and then a pinata in the shape of Thomas The Tank Engine. Sorry about the candy moms and dads... I couldn't find a pinata filler set of plastic toys, which was actually my preference.
And then it was time to go- we sent everyone home with candy, a train whistle, bouncy ball and helium balloon. Lexi was a wonderful hostess, greeting everyone at the door with an engineer's hat and then saying 'Thank you for coming" as each friend left. After the party she said, "Mom, I wasn't shy!" What a big girl she is!
