Party-Planning in a Day

This year I decided to throw Clark a birthday party and invite friends. I found a fun park that has a 6-mile train track for mini steam trains that the public can ride every 3rd Saturday. What kid wouldn't love that, I thought. Plus, it's outside. Easiest party ever. The more the merrier. I had it planned for weeks. AND THEN...it rained and rained the day before and the forecast said 80% chance of rain for the day of the party. Ack! I had to re-plan the entire party in less than a day. Instead of riding fun trains we: built trains using shapes I cut out of construction paper, played musical "walk-around-on-a-train-track-made-of-masking-tape-and-pick-up-a-numbered-bean-bag-when-the-music-stops", played spin around a time or two then pin the conductor on the ghetto train without a blindfold (most kids were under age 3), opened presents, played with trains and other toys, and ate ridiculously messy wheat-free, vegan chocolate cupcakes. I felt bad sending those kiddies home so messy but it was pretty funny to see 9 kids totally covered in chocolate cake. Each kid went home with a homemade favor bag complete with printed train. The party lasted just over an hour. It was pure chaos but I think...I hope...the kids had fun.

I was thinking about Clark's birthday and realized that turning 3 had it out for him. I planned to take him to ride the zoo train on his actual birthday but he woke up with a stomach bug so we stayed home instead. Then his party got rained out. And the fun train sticker books I ordered for him and his guests got lost in the mail. And I ran out of ingredients while making the cupcakes, etc. etc. It was one thing after another. But despite all that, I think he still got a proper celebration for turning 3!