Griffin's 2nd Birthday Party

We had a Thomas themed party for Griffin's birthday.

Daddy even got in on helping with the cake this time around.

I made this banner the night before, laid it all out about midnight, turned it over and taped it all down, then flipped it back over and it was all backwards! It's the Avise-Rouse backward birthday banner curse. We bought one many, many years ago and got it out of the package and it was backwards. We thought it was so funny we used it at every birthday for years!

He loved his cake. He said "choo choo" over and over.

It was just the boys and Mya for kids so they got cool personalized train goody bags.

Thomas pinata

The banner after Daddy fixed it!

Griffin got a personalized shirt for his birthday like Tucker. And Tucker wore his Thomas shirt too!

The snack train

The pinata was a pull-string one but Daddy and Uncle Miah decided we should let the kids try and hit it. Then they had to figure out a way to hold it up so the kids could swing at it. That was quite a process!

Griffin took a few swings first

Then Tucker, he hit it pretty hard, but no candy

Next was Mya's turn and still no candy. I guess they make the pull-string ones pretty tough!

Finally they pulled the strings. There were 10 strings so each kid picked one and pulled - nothing. They each took another and pulled - nothing. Again - nothing! It was the last string that opened the pinata and dropped out the treats!

Collecting loot

Opening gifts. He wanted to stop after each gift and play with the toy he'd just opened.

He got a lot of really cool train toys.

We took turns handing toys to Grandpa and Daddy to open

He was so excited about this John Deere tractor and wanted it open right away. Daddy, Grandpa and Uncle Miah all went to work on it. Griffin stood watching so patiently.

Then he sat down for a while and watched. Then stood back up and was swinging his arms back and forth like he couldn't believe how long it was taking these 3 grown men to get a kids toy put together!

And finally....success! He loved it.

"Happy Birthday" and candles and cake

We all know how much Grandma loves John Deere but we were worried she was either trying to steal the tractor or ride it!