CAUTION!! Party zone!
Logan's third birthday party was this morning. I had never had a morning party before, but I honestly may be a convert. I was able to get 90% of the stuff done the night before that I would have put off until 'party day' otherwise, and it went easily together and with much less stress than normal.
Alex had the idea of putting all the hard hats on our coat rack which made a wonderful addition to the decor as you walked in the door.
For the rest of the decor I went super cheap this year and used our local library for every construction vehicle book I could find.... then put Logan's collection of dump trucks around the house along with caution tape placed across framed photos. I turned out really charming!
I took most of the toys out of the party area, but left the blocks, the car mat and the cars stuck at different ends of the room for the kids to play with.
All the tables were covered in black plastic with masking tape down the center so they looked like roads.
Mostly, the kids just played, but I did have an activity set up for them in the other room. I called them in groups of three and had them make a 'monster truck painting'. Not quite on theme, but they all LOVED it. Even the older siblings. So I consider it a success. :)
This is what they look like when they are done and mounted on constriction paper (see... it IS in theme... constriction paper! (*I am such a dork.))
Logan's birthday cake was the easiest I have ever made! I made two wonderful devils food cakes, cut them into pieces after they cooled, added crushed Oreos and gummy worms, and put it in a wax paper lined dump truck... (which was also Logan's birthday gift from me and daddy.) 
The cone candles brought the whole thing together and Logan's spent lots of time telling me how great they were. Warms a mamas heart!
He LOVED it!
The favor bags were simple orange bags with white ribbon tying them and a small printed "CAUTION" sign as a tag.
They had dump truck stickers, a little construction truck, a fruit leather and a CD of Logan's favorite songs, 2010... which of course, started out with Ralph's World "Dump Truck".
It was a huge hit. And it just so happened to end right around naptime, so as they all came down off the sugar, parents could just whisk them into bed. Logan is peacefully sleeping and I think I will join him. But it was a great party! *Yawn*
Comments
Judy: The snacking granola doesn't last long in our house so I have never stored it for over a week. I honestly can't say, but I do know that it has done good for that long in a jar with a air tight lid. :)
Blessings,
Val
i like all the books, such a nice touch. and the dump truck cake- we did that a couple of years ago when our theme was 'mud'. loved it : )
my daughter turns 6 this week and i am doing a kind of *detailed* craft. thanks for the idea of small groups- that makes it seem much more do-able for me!
I'm thinking of planning a construction party for my 3 year old and LOVE your ideas!
Georgia