All Aboard the Andrew Express!

Recently, my son had his third birthday.  So in my usual grand gesture, I decide on a theme and go all out with my expression of that theme.  For a while now, my son has been in love with Thomas the Train.  Last Summer, I was blessed to find a train table with some accessories at a local garage sale.  Since then I have been scouting out thrift stores, mom2 moms and consignment stores to add to his collection.  At one, mom 2 mom sale I found a Thomas fold up tent with Annie and Clarabel and that is where I decided on the theme for his third birthday -Thomas the train and friends!
 After Christmas, I began to research train parties on the internet especially on Pinterest. 
I gathered ideas for about a month, then it was time to execute the plans.

The Decorations

Most of the Decorations were purchased from Party City and Oriental Trading.

A big Thomas and Percy Wall Mural available at Party City or Oriental Trading.

 

The above railroad track table covering is available at Oriental trading under key word railroad.

In this last picture, Our basement was decked out with blue and red create paper, Thomas and Friends spinners, and balloon flag pendants to complete this festive atmosphere.

The Food

 Due to Food Allergies of my own children and family members and some allergies of some of the guests, the food preparation was a bit challenging.  The Menu included Choo Choo Chicken Nuggets (Gluten-Free, Soy Free)-Train Tacos ( Brought prepared, just gluten free) - Cargo Cupcakes(Gluten Free Mac and Cheese which is also Soy free too!)-All Aboard Apples   -Pretzels Logs ( Gluten Free pretzel sticks and regular pretzel sticks)- Veggie Straws (both Gluten Free and Soy Free) Popcorn, Blue Jello, a Coal Car(  Chocolate Covered Raisins)and a Produce train car.  All was displayed as a train on a track with Thomas pulling the cars.

Activities

When the party guests arrived, they went to station #1 to make a paper engine.  I found print out coloring pages on the Engine Depot website.

 The we formed a line of all the engines and Chugga Chugg Choo Chooed downstairs. While they waited guests were encouraged to take a ride on the Tiny Tot Railroad with Sir Topham Hat.

Downstairs there was out train table with some new track and trains to make it new and exciting.  Reading with Thomas, Fishing with Captain, Cranky Tower build, Percy Tender toss and the Thomas tent previously mentioned.

The Cake

For my son's birthday Cake I did a two tier cake make from Betty Crocker Gluten free white cake mix, then added some bright sprinkles to the batter.  I baked two nine inch cake pans filled the center with rainbow chip icing then dirty iced it with the same thing.  I covered the cake in marshmallow fondant.  I cut a tunnel hole out of the front of the cake covered it with black marshmallow fondant  and stuck Toby coming out of the tunnel. Toby, Diesal and Harold were some small Thomas and friends that I found at Big Lots.  For the cupcakes I made them out of Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free mix and then added some color bits to some of the batter after I had mad a couple without since they contained soy.  I dirty iced them with Marshmallow creme since regular frosting has soy in it and topped them with marshmallow fondant.  At the base of the cake was a motorized Birthday Surprise Thomas Trackmaster Train that I found on Ebay.  Needless to say, my son loved it and won't leave the table after we cut the cake and still talks about it today.

As my son opened his presents, I gave each guest a Thomas favor bag filled with lots of goodies.  Thank you for reading this blog and I hope my ideas inspired you to make your next event memorable.