Gwen's Birthday: Thomas the Train Party!

The day after Gwen's birthday, she had her first birthday party where she got to invite friends. We asked her weeks before what kind of party she wanted, and of course she wanted a Thomas party. Her friends Cole, Madie, Aftyn, Lucy, Charlie and Drew came. Drew's sisters, Hailey and Sidney also joined in on the fun. Everyone had a great time!

First, they played a train version of a cake walk. I made train tracks on the ground with little signs showing the train stations. They pretended they were trains, chugging along the tracks while we had music from the Thomas shows playing in the background. When the music would stop, they had to go to a train station. We pulled names of the stations out of a basket. Whoever was at the right train station got a sticker. They played this for quite a while and really seemed to get into it.

Next, they played, Pin the #1 on Thomas. I wasn't sure if the kids would go for being blindfolded, but nobody cared except for Aftyn. Most of them did a little too well at the game, so I think I didn't get them blindfolded really well.



After the game, it was time for dinner. We had sandwiches that we cut into trains using cookie cutters, grapes, fishies, and juice.

For dessert, Rick and I made a chocolate cake with a train scene on the top. Rick even made trees out of ice cream cones covered with frosting. I made grass out of food coloring and shredded coconut. It was awesome! I think we need to go into the cake decorating business.

We displayed the cake during the party with really train tracks and trains around the bottom. Cute!

After dessert, we played one more game where we had a whole bunch of paper trains hidden around the living room. We told the kids that the trains got lost on the way to the station and needed help getting home. The kids had fun looking all over for the trains.

When Gwen opened her gifts, she was so excited, she couldn't stay in one place. She started at the rocking chair.

Next, she got on the floor in front of the rocking chair...

...then it was back in the chair, but facing the wrong way.

She then moved to the bench by the front door.
Back to the floor again

I think Gwen moved around so much in an effort to keep the other kids away from her gifts. That didn't thwart them at all. They followed her everywhere she went.

Here is what she got from her sweet friends...

Cole: Diesel 10. (Another train from the Thomas collection that she's been coveting)
Lucy: A Hello Kitty Scrapbook
Aftyn: Two cute Sesame Street puzzles
Charlie: A toy carousel with a figurine that can go for a ride on it
Madie: A darling lunchbox
Drew: Two puzzles, a coloring book, and crayons.

Gwen sent home her friends with fun party favors. Everyone got a Thomas book, Thomas tattoos, Thomas stickers, bubbles, glow bracelets, and either clay or a mini paint set.

Lucy with her treat bag
Gwen and Madie with her treat bag

Gwen and Cole with his treat bag. This picture cracks me up!

After opening gifts, the party wound down and her friends went home. Gwen had a blast at her party and loved sharing it with her cute friends.

Gwen and Charlie hugging goodbye