Charlie's 2nd Birthday Party

Taking several factors into consideration, we decided to have Charlie's birthday party on Jan. 12th this year, a week before his actual birthday. What a fun celebration we had that afternoon! Jimmy and I decided to go with a truck theme this year since Charlie really likes them.

The moment I saw these thank you notes in Target, with an empty space beside them that said "Green dump truck invitations," I was sold!!! We checked a couple other Targets to track down the invitations.

We let Charlie open one gift from us the day of his party- his cement truck! You push a lever on the truck, and it makes a great truck noise and shoots a ball of cement out the back! Ha!! He loved it!

His gift from Uncle Dan- a mat for his cars! Woohoo!

Hugging Uncle D for his birthday gift

The "spread"- cake, pizza rolls, cheese and crackers, grapes, and pineapple

His cake!!! I was so excited when I found this at Target in their cake book. Charlie already had some "Chuck the Truck" trucks, so this was perfect!

The balloons (minus an Elmo balloon that was upstairs), from the Dollar Tree!! 

Party favors- cups of mini cookies with various transportation erasers taped to the top

While we waited to everyone to arrive, the kids played and the adults chatted.

The kids that were there were Bryson and Ashlyn, Liza Jane, and Ethan and Justin (and of course Charlie and Henry). Baby Will and Sarah Grace were sick- boo! Adults were Mom, Dad, and Daniel, Zane and Tara, Josh and Paige, Anna and Andrew, Logan and Aubrey, Jenny and Daniel, and us. We missed Megan and Andrew and Mandie and Jason. It is definitely interesting trying to pile people in here whenever we host something! 

Since he had learned all about opening gifts at Christmas, Charlie was so excited about presents and opened each one as he received it. It was fun to watch his excitement, and we thought it was a good low-key way to get the gift opening accomplished. 

Mom and Zane chatting

Playing together!

We had set out some of Charlie's cars for everyone. (With Logan & Aubrey and Anna & Andrew in the background.)

Hanging out!

Henry loved these ABC blocks that Charlie got from Ethan and Justin. Charlie and I have also enjoyed building towers with them. (Side note- Henry wore a shirt with a cement truck for his brother's birthday, and Charlie wore a shirt with a piece of construction equipment on it. They were cute!)

Henry loved hitting them together.

Finally it was time for cake and snacks. Watching Charlie while we sang "Happy Birthday" to him was my favorite part of the party!

He laid his head on Jimmy's chest and just smiled. He seemed delighted and a little bashful all at the same time.

What a sweet smile!

Blowing out his candle- we had to tell him to blow like he was blowing on hot food! 

He asked for his trucks from the cake immediately after the singing was over.

Though he tried to bite it first, he learned how to lick the candle!

We cut the cake, everyone filled their plates, and then it was on to eating and more playing!!

Charlie with his cake! (And his puppy that Ashlyn gave him!) 

Bryson and Ashlyn

Liza Jane

Charlie and Liza Jane had fun with some Sesame Street stickers...

...As you can see, he has almost all of them (from a big page of stickers!) on his shirt.

Jenny and Daniel- love Jenny's expression! They gave Charlie a cool book about construction a road that we have already read over and over.... and over!

Aubrey lovin' on our youngest.

They had fun with one of the gifts from Mom and Dad- magnetic animals with a baking sheet to put them on!  (And under Charlie is the construction site puzzle they also gave him)

Dad chatting with Liza Jane!

Justin really enjoyed all the cars and trucks! He had a truck party also in December, which we went to.

Surveying all the vehicles! Charlie got a truck and trailer you hitch on from Bryson. It had a four-wheeler you could put on the trailer, and Charlie has played with this a lot! (And he calls the four-wheeler a "sickle-bike," which is his way of saying motorcycle!) 

What a fun afternoon celebrating Charlie!!