Animals on Parade {Birthday Party with Friends}

Whaaaat? Another party? Wellllllll...guess when you're TWO you should have TWO parties, eh? He he he...in all seriousness, we decided to split our birthday partying into two celebrations...our
red, white and TWO! family party on Hudson's actual birthday and a simple but fun Animals on Parade: Swing like a Monkey, Splash under the Elephant's Trunk friend party last Saturday at a local park/splash ground.Some of Hudson's grandparents couldn't come on Saturday, so this worked out great for everyone...and I got to plan 2 parties! I know, I know...some of you may be cringing at the thought, but for me it was FUN!

I wanted to keep this party veeeeerrrrrrrryyyyy simple (hush, hush...I hear you snickering from way over here)...almost like a playdate...at the park...with cake. I knew I wanted to focus on 3 simple things:

1. Animal Crackers. Hudson LOVES crackers. Asks for them at least 987,654,321 times/day.2. "Swing like a Monkey". Because he is our very own monkey and to tie in the monkey bars at the park.3. "Splash under the Elephant's Trunk". Because Hudson LOVES animals and I LOVE the way he says "efant" for elephant.......and because it was just perfect to tie in the splash ground at the park! So here's the super simple cake & party favor table...told you it was simple ;) Perfect for the park because it was VERY windy...thank goodness for the breeze because even though we had the party at 10am, it was already close to 100 degrees! Hurry up with the sunblock mama, I'm ready to get this party started!! Right after we greeted our guests...like little Ella Kate here with my BFF Heidi......it was time to let the fun BEGIN!I decided to pass out the party favors right as the party started so that the kids could use them at the party. Last summer I found these cute recyclable bags at
Toys-R-Us and decided to buy a bunch of them. At $1, they were too cute to pass up! I knew they'd come in handy soon enough!I just wrote each child's name with a sharpie and stuffed them with a giant bubble wand and an inflatable beach ball. I put names on everything...even the wands, bubble trays, and beach balls just to make it easy on the parents.

I think they party favors were a hit. A gallon of miracle bubbles in a bucket...probably the best $3 I've ever spent!Dip......and BLOW!Water + Bubbles = FUN!While the kiddos played, the mamas relaxed...HA!
Who am I kidding? This was a rare moment between chasing & wrangling kids and enduring the heat. But these are two of my dearest friends...we go waaaay back...we met in college and became the best of friends...we all worked at a gymnastics gym together...love these girls! My dear friend Michelle who helps me brainstorm creative projects is on the left and my BFF Jammie is on the right who is the calmest and most down to earth person I've ever known. Good thing because she's a doctor and we need more good ones like her.....AND...... because she just shared some very exciting news with me and I'm just over the moon happy for her and her beau Xavier.

Seriously, is this not the cutest baby you've ever seen?????? Oh, baby Payton, you are just the sweetest little baby ever! A whole new meaning to up, and uP, and UP!Even the grown-ups had time to play - love it!Practicing for the World's Strongest Man Competition... 2030 edition. This little guy was on the GO the WHOLE TIME!NOT happy to get called out of the splash zone for cake. Only the promise of juice could slow him down long enough for us to sing Happy Birthday.STILL...no hat. Double Boo!
He's going through a hat boycotting phase. Wouldn't even wear the cute fisherman's hat that matched his swimsuit. I had a feeling he wouldn't wear the party hat so I didn't even bother making him a coordinating Lulu & Co. birthday hat for this party...anyone want to be my official hat model? tee hee heeHappy Birthday to you...
(see those 2 little fingers just dying to get in the cake...so cute!)Happy Birthday dear Hudson, Happy Birthday to you!Make a wish...2 if you'd like......and BLOW! Yaaaay!
(I LOVE his puffed up cheeks!!) Told you he was a monkey...even cake...on the GO!Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum!Forget the cake...forget the ice cream...this boy LOVES his animal crackers! Yay for boy toys!!! Thank you sweet friends for celebrating with Hudson and for the fun presents too!Dear Hudson,

You are getting to be such a BIG BOY these days! I can't believe we're about to change your nursery into a big boy room *sniff*You are the sweetest, cuddliest little boy in the whole world (just slightly biased *wink*)...What a wonderful 2 years we've had with you! I thank God every day for the gift of being your mama.Can't wait to see where these little piggies will take you this next year...All our love always,
Mama, Daddy & Grace