Party! Party! Party!

Every year since we have been married, we have headed to California for a visit in the summertime. We do it then because it serves as a good midway point between Christmas from one year to the next. Once Jonah came along, it also allowed us to celebrate his birthday with our families. This year however, we decided to skip the June Cali trip for the first time in a long time. (The twice yearly travel proves to be pretty strenuous each year, and since both sides of the family were visiting NC this summer, we knew we'd be sacrificing less by skipping this year.) All that being said, we had the opportunity to have Jonah's first "friends" birthday party!! We got to invite his buddies from church and play groups, to come and play and celebrate him. It was SO fun! I involved him in every aspect of the process. He made the guest list of people he loves (and who love him, which blesses me as his mama), helped make the food, and picked out pieces of the decor and goody bags.

We had a Thomas theme of course! (I referred to it as "2.0" since last years theme was also Thomas.) Not a lot has changed in his obsession in a year! The cake was home made and was in Thomas colors. I had to put my Pinterest dreams aside since he picked out the good ol' candy letters for it.

I did refer to Pinterest (my obsession!) for ideas for the food. I put on the invite that "cake and sugar" would be served, so people knew what to expect! I tried as best I could to stay with a blue and red train theme. (Not as easy to do a "theme" when it's a boy party, at a park, with no games, but I tried!)

We had the party at a park in Boone called Junaluska Park. It is an older residential park that isn't as well know or frequented. It is beautiful, shady, and has old school play equipment. The bulk of the time was just letting Jonah and his friends run wild.

Caden and Ezra...

Melissa Ann and Malia...

Jonah showing Mary a train...(LOVE "Grumpy Cat" Charlie photo bombing. He does NOT like getting caught in a picture! haha) 

Bryson, Forrest, Elijah, and Caden...

Ever serious looking Baylor...

The probably-unsafe-but-super-cool metal merry-go-round was a big hit. Most of the kids were on it most of the time. (As you can probably tell.) All the kids took turns doing the spinning too. (Catch a smiling Charlie here!)

Jonah and one of his BFF's, Caden.

After they had run off some steam we called the kids over to do the customary birthday stuff like blowing out candles, eating treats and cake, and opening gifts.

We tried to put 4 candles on the cake, but Boone is just too windy for that. One it is!

Jonah initally went off and starting digging into his cake alone, but his sweet love Mary joined him.

 Caden, Ezra, and Baylor chowing down.

The kids got a little restless during gift time. And why wouldn't they? We kept it short and sweet and made sure that Jonah thanked each friend while he looked at them. (Every moment is teaching something, right?)

I can't resist her sweet face! Mary is just a doll baby.

LOVE this moment of little Forrest watching Jonah, and his sweet unaware folks in the background. Good photography Andrew!

After the gifts were open, there was a little more time to play, and then things pretty much came to a close. Goody bags were given out. Thank You's (again) and Good-byes were said. Quick cleanup was done, and then we were out of there! It was a really fun day for Jonah and really solidified what a community we have here. Thankful all around.