My little conductor train engineer turned three at the end of April.
The big conductor train engineer turned 34, two days later.
The party invitations promised train whistles and caps for all, and we delivered. Bandanas, too.
My idea for the table was to create a forest in the center with train tracks all around, and little bits of scenery. The cats destroyed my maiden hair fern centerpiece almost immediately though, so I went to a big box store for more plants and found the selection lacking. I ended up with a rubber tree plant, and I used the moss I had leftover from making my terrarium to fill in as shrubbery.
We had the usual party decorations up too, and pretty packages all wrapped up for giving.
The Marimekko tablecloth on the table was the one I’d written about last year. I didn’t buy it at the time, but I thought of it when I was trying to find something that would suggest a landscape for the table, and I was able to find one on eBay. We had a birthday cupcake train, led by Thomas. The cupcakes were from a bakery, and Eleanor and I made the flatcars out of graham crackers, mini Oreos, frosting (from a tube, used like glue), and wafer cookies (as axels, for stability).
It was a good day, with no confusion or delay.
Happy birthday(s), my loves.
Comments
54 responses to “Eleanor’s Third Birthday Party”
Goodness, that’s sweet. Nice work. (also, I’ve been really tempted have the small one figure out some way to electrify my nice plants. Why do the cats only go for the really nice ones?)
This is so lovely! I really like that tablecloth – will you be able to use it this summer outdoors?
It would be great outside!
What a cute party! I am totally in love with the cupcake train and the mini oreo wheels. What a lucky girl!
Adorable! And now I want a conductor hat! So cute!
Everything is so cute! The cupcake train was a stroke of genius. I am kind of in love with the planter that the rubber tree is in, mind sharing the source? :D
What a creative party; the train is amazing! And I also love the planter! I would love to know where you got it.
The planter was from Home Depot. I picked it up there when I bought the rubber tree.
I just love it all! The colors in the cupcake train make it a treat for the eyes and your purple dress is so pretty.
I have been waiting to see pictures of the whole thing pulled together. SO very cute! I have to say I love that you never go over-the-top girly for Eleanor’s parties–It seems to always celebrate creativity and what she’s into at the time. Veddy nice!
What a fun party! Hope the little conductor and big conductor were pleased. The graham cracker box cars are too cute.
LOVE the cupcake train. Also smitten with the black and white striped pillow behind Eleanor — a local find??
It’s by Proud Mary. I wrote about it here.
The cupcake train is so great! I’m going to remember that one. Love the tablecloth, too…
Glad that your train goes all the way to Paris – always nice to have a bit of French flavour too in the party…
are you preggers?
No. Gee, is the picture that unflattering?
Honestly, who would ask that! You look beautiful in that picture!
Good lord. How have people not learned to never ask that to a woman? I remember breaking down in tears and having to leave work one time when someone asked me that. For the record, you look great Nicole.
Seriously, that pic does not suggest pregnancy to me in the slightest. You look great!
oh my
Just a comment, and I swear it’s not intended to be bitchy or nit-picky. My husband actually IS a train conductor, and the adorable outfits you guys are wearing are actually for engineers. No one really knows what conductors do, so people think they “drive” the train, when that’s actually the single job of the engineer. Conductors actually do everything else, at least according to my guy :)
Ah, thanks for the clarification!
Hi Nicole,
I find these comments today rather entertaining. Preggers? I’ve been following this blog for years, and you have never looked better!
You look very thin, if anything………
Actually, I was going to ask you about your weight-loss secret.
Also, I loved the party decorations especially the cupcake train.
Nice job!
Here, here! I haven’t read MIL in a while and stubbled upon in just now while looking for ideas for my son’s train themed birthday party. My first thought when I saw your picture was “Wow, she looks fantastic!” Some people… blerg.
So stinkin’ cute! Lovin’ the cupcake train!!
SO, so cute. And I like that you didn’t do a princess theme. Our daughter turns 3 this summer and I plan to avoid it. The invitations are adorable!
Super cute! I love the vintage approach and that cupcake train is genius!
Adorable!! I remember buying a Brio train set for my daughter when she was two, and she loved it.
Love Eleanor’s invites too.
You all looked lovely! Also, M&M cupcakes…!!
Ahh! Everyone looks so happy! Love all of this — the party, the photos, and mostly the cupcake train. ;)
You look so beautiful. Your husband has a serious Jude Law vibe going. Handsome! Your children are amazing and you throw a fine party–the cupcake train is inspired. Happy birthday to father and daughter! Here’s to a very happy year.
jbhat
I will have to look at the planters the next time I’m in Home Depot! I always just figure they’ll be blah so I usually don’t even look and pick mine up from IKEA and other more design minded stores. But that one is some serious cute.
I see my daughter’s next birthday party forming in my head right now!
What a wonderful yet simple party! Happy birthday!
iLa
Very sweet ! I loooove the cupcakes train for a birthday cake … I think I might just bake one for myself in August …
Greeeeaat party! I love all the details, the hats, the cupcake train (I want one of them now!) Your creativity is inspiring :)
Love it! My almost 3 year old daughter also LOVES Thomas. I may be stealing some ideas from your party. :)
You look great and I’m so happy you posted this…my little train-obsessed guy turns 3 in July and I am planning to borrow all of your ideas. Could you please share your source for the hats/bandanas/whistles? Also, your dress = perfection with this theme. :)
Really love the thought and care that you put into your celebrations. Like a previous poster said, it really comes through that it isn’t over the top, just celebrating where your kiddo is at this point of their life, just beautiful! Would love to know where you got the hats etc…not because I want to re-create but find it very inspiring when something looks so beautifully put together can come out of ingenious ideas. (like the moss!)
Cute party! What’s your secret for keeping kids parties so low key without sacrificing on all the cute details? I find I can’t resist the temptation to go overboard.
LOVE the train you made! Consider it pinned:
http://pinterest.com/pin/141581982005937421/
:)
LOVE that you have avoided mega princessness so far! That’s my goal with my two year old as well.
Where did you get that dress? I want!
Your family is adorable!
Looks like a wonderful party! And I echo the comments about your dress — love it. Where is it from?
[…] peonies are in bloom.A patterned tablecloth probably helps too. This is the same one I used for Eleanor’s birthday party, but I think I like it outside even better.My family always used paper plates and plastic cups and […]
I am doing a train theme for my son’s 2nd birthday. Where did you get the train whistles & the conductor hats? Such a cute party, love all the ideas!
Oriental Trading Co. sells them by the dozen.
Where did you find the thomas tshirts? I cant seem to find any I like.
I think they were from Target and Old Navy.
What kind of frosting did you use and did you make all those different flavors of cake or just use white cake mix?
The cupcakes came from a bakery.
Adorable! How did you assemble each “car?” is it just a graham cracker, the cupcakes, and the oreo wheels? How do they stay up? My daughter is obsessed w/ trains–I want to try to recreate this!
How do the “cars” stand up? What is below the graham crackers (other than the oreo wheels)? ADORABLE!