We're gonna party like we're 3 years old!

Apparently, you party it up when you are 3 years old!  Well, at least that's what I chose for them.  We threw Ben and Sam a big ol' birthday party this year.  For the last two years we've had a family party but this year I decided to be crazy and do a friends and family combo party.  We were very happy (and a little nervous) when almost everyone we invited could make it and there were a hundred people attending!  I was closely following the weather all week because 1. it's November in Kansas so it could be beautiful or snowing  2. Our house is about 1400 sq feet and we would have a sardine themed party if everyone had to be inside.  The party was on Saturday and it was sunny and in the 70's...the very next day it was raining all day and in the 30's!  We dodged a bullet big time and I'd like to give a huge shout out to God for hooking us up with the weather.

The boys wanted a Thomas the Train party again this year so we tried to follow that theme.  Although, after weeks of planning Sam decided to tell me he wanted a Captain America theme the day before the party.  I pretended not to hear him :)

My attempt at something I saw on Pinterest.  A home made snack choo choo:

Cupcakes.  My cousin and the boys surrogate, Jamie, decorated them:

Wonderful friends and family who came out on this beautiful day to celebrate:

 

Lot of playing kids:

We even hired a balloon artist, who did really great work and the kids loved it!

She made Ben and Sam each one of these wearable Thomas's, which they, of course, refused to wear:

Then it was pinata time, which has become a birthday tradition for our boys. This year there were so many kids we did two pinatas and had prizes for the kids who found a blue ribbon it in:

And we sang Happy Birthday....

Aunt Jamie and the boys....

The two baby mamas....

First birthday party as a family of 5...

First birthday party as a family of 3....

So as you can see it was a great time had by all!!  Matt was really wonderful and helped out a ton by cleaning up the back yard and smoking over 30 lbs of pork for the pulled pork sandwiches.  And, big thanks to my friend Gretchen for taking all of these pictures to document the day while I was running around.  And, the biggest thanks of all to my cousin Jamie, without her none of this would have been happening.

Ben and Sam...these is no lack of love for you guys, as you can see.  Everything we ever do is all for you and to make you happy!!  Happy birthday party little boys!