Approximately two weeks ago, right after the bridal shower my mom and I threw and in the heat of planning for a local family night out with the Quad City Moms Blog, I turned to Ryan and said “I’m going low-key with Henry’s birthday party this year.”
(If you know me at all, feel free to laugh hysterically right now.)
The only major thing I had completed at that point were the invites – which were barely sent out within two weeks of the party. I was just so behind. And I try to stick to the rule that if it’s not something I want to do for a party, I’m not going to do it. Because if it’s not fun, it’s not worth the stress.
I had a few ideas, a handful or supplies, and a Pinterest board, but that was all. And I wasn’t quite sure how it was all going to come together. And you know what? That was okay. Henry could have cared less about all the decor and details and favors.
But somehow, my version of “low-key” turned into totally not low-key. You knew I was going to say that, right?
I ended up getting (almost) everything else I needed online with two-day shipping and I crafted my little heart out for four days before his big second birthday party. Just the way I like it. The crafting is my favorite part.
And it all came out beautifully. The weather was perfect. Everyone seemed to have a blast. WE EVEN GOT A FAMILY PHOTO WHERE EVERYONE IS LOOKING AT THE CAMERA AND SMILING. A birthday miracle.
I know that Henry would have been totally content with a store-bought cake and a few gifts, but he had a great time with his momma’s craziness, too.
I really tried to focus on things he loves –
- We served his favorite foods – hot dogs, chips, fruits, veggies and cookies. Oh, and lemonade.
- We had a popcorn bar, which is something he’s been obsessed with since way before he should have been eating popcorn. Popcorn can make him do just about anything – which is a power I try to use for good.
- We had plenty of fun wheeled toys for him and the other kids to play with. He loves any toys with wheels, so I was glad that when he got to the party, he immediately spotted all the tractors and they kept him entertained for hours.
- Oh, and there were balloons, which were an unexpected hit.
I already mentioned yesterday that we were going with a loose Johnny Tractor theme and I wanted to use lots of photos of my tractor-lover. Starting with the photo invites from Tiny Prints.
For the actual party, we decided to rent a pavilion at a local park. This meant I avoided cleaning my house. It also gave some built-in kids activities. But mostly, it meant I didn’t have to clean my house.
There were some awesome perks to having the party somewhere else. But, loading up everything and taking it all there to set up in one morning? Exhausting. Usually, I decorate the house over several days. But then I didn’t have to worry about cleaning my house after the party either. (Okay. I really SHOULD clean my house now that it’s over. But I haven’t.)
Let’s get on to the photos. And there are a lot of photos.
The food table – with plenty of Henry favorites like hot dogs, chips, fruits and veggies and lots of dip and ketchup. (I made the tags with my Silhouette using Kraft paper. And went with fun themed names like Farm Dogs, John Deere Greens, Veggie Patch, Chicken Feed, Haystacks, and the Orchard. Inspiration from Theron’s Wheels Party and Weston’s Backyard Birthday Bash.)
The stand-in tractor photo prop was sent to my by 1st Wishes (along with so many other adorable details). I am borderline obsessed with it and all the kids loved putting their heads in the cutout. I made the simple tractor sign with a chalkboard arrow I bought for his party last year from Save-On-Crafts.
The windmill is my parents’ and I convinced them to bring it to the party to use as a photo prop.
I simply printed Henry’s monthly photos and attached to the frame with clothespins. (I glued the Kraft paper signs to the clothespins.)
And then there’s Corny Cornpicker’s Popcorn Bar. This was so adorable and I’m bummed I didn’t get a better picture.
The apple baskets were from a friend’s wedding last fall. The couple had a totally awesome popcorn bar and gave me all their baskets, seasonings and jars. We rigged the baskets up on a old ladder that belonged to Ryan’s grandpa and I bought two large bags of popcorn at the local popcorn place, printed bags with the logo, and let people go to town. (Hint: Buffalo ranch popcorn. To-die.)
The popcorn was fun for all ages. (And the farm fabric is a dishtowel from Crate & Barrel, which I spotted at my friend Joi’s.)
I went with dirt cake instead of getting a cake at a local bakery. (Because I am no baker.)
I put the dirt ckes into small clear glasses and then Henry’s cake with candles in a tractor trailer. I made little tractor picks with the Silhouette.
I would recommend not getting any fingers near Henry’s mouth while eating dirt cake. You may lose them.
And I can’t forget the amazing cookies (by 2 Mamas Baking for locals).
I had her put the tractor cookies on sticks so I could stick them into a hay bale. Love. And everyone seriously GOBBLED these up. I didn’t take a single one home. (Sad. They are so good.)
When it came to favors, I went with Johnny Tractor books that I found on Amazon. I picked two different books so families with more than one child didn’t take home too many duplicates.
I packaged the books with Johnny Tractor stickers and a custom temporary tattoo I made with my Silhouette (more on that later). 
I made the tags on Kraft paper with my printer and Silhouette. Henry has become a huge book lover this year, so I thought this would be a great favor that kids may actually keep. As for tattoos and stickers, what toddler doesn’t adore them?
Oh, and kids also took home these awesome John Deere tractor tumblers from 1st Wishes.
And not to let the adults go away empty-handed, I whipped up these awesome green stadium cups after realizing it wouldn’t be much more expensive than buying disposable. I’ll share how I did this later, too.
In addition to food, I wanted to make sure that kids stayed entertained so no one felt rushed to leave.
The hit of the party for the kids was the corn table. I emptied our sand and water table and filled it with one bag of corn from Farm and Fleet. The kids flocked to it and hardly left it. (I tried to bring plenty of tractors and shovels for everyone.)
We also had fun with the photo booth.
And we got to try our luck with a Johnny Tractor piñata.
I had planned a rousing game of Pin the Funnel on the Tractor. But, we ended up skipping it. Although Henry did like the sign.
He could have cared less about the gift opening, although he totally loved his treasures once they were opened.
And there was much fun to be had with those rad balloons.
All in all, a wonderful – but not very low-key – gathering for my two-year-old. And judging by the fact that Henry passed out in the car on the way home and slept for 3 1/2 hours, I’d say it was a success by all standards.
Do you go overboard for birthdays, too?
Do you like this party idea? Check out our other kid party ideas:
SPACE-THEMED KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTY
VINTAGE TRAIN KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTY
SUPERHERO TRAINING CAMP KIDS PARTY
A PUMPKIN PATCH KIDS PARTY
Special thanks to my friends at 1st Wishes and Tiny Prints for providing supplies to throw this party! And thank you for supporting NewlyWoodwards sponsors to help make posts like this possible.
Hello,
Loved it all. Where did you buy tractor cut out for photo booth?
I got it from Birthday Express – but it doesn’t appear to be available anymore! Bummer!
There’s another photo prop available that’s sort of similar, but I can’t speak to the quality or size. (http://www.birthdayexpress.com/p/58674/farm-tractor-photo-prop)
I am super bummed! I LOVE the tractor tumblers and the photo prop. But I can’t find either one of those online. I guess they don’t make them anymore.
I know! I’m so disappointed that they were discontinued. I have looked everywhere for a suitable replacement and cannot find anything close. (I recently did come across this one at WalMart and the price is right, but I can’t speak to what it really looks like in person – photo prop I’ve actually hung onto my photo prop because I loved it so much. It’s been part of many other birthday parties over the past three years.
I love this party! My son is turning 2 in March and want to do this theme but I can’t find the products anywhere!! 🙁
Bummer! It looks like they aren’t on the Birthday Express website anymore. There are some other options there – but they aren’t Johnny Tractor or John Deere.
What specifically are you looking for? Looks like Run Green has some options – http://www.rungreen.com/party
Making temporary tattoos on the silhoette – what a fab idea!! Looks like an amazing party!
Thanks so much, Joelle! The kids loved the tattoos.
Currently planning a 2nd birthday tractor party for my little Liam and your party has been a big inspiration. I love the craft paper tags. Did you design the tags your self? I would love more info on how you did it. Thanks!!!
I made them in my Silhouette with print and cut. Do you have a Silhouette? I can send you the file.
Otherwise, I can change out the name and send it as a PDF. You can just cut it yourself with scissors. Either way is simple enough. =)
Lowkey–shmokey. What fun is low key ever? Go big or go home! I loved it all. I can’t believe you got it all done, though! I about killed myself with Theron’s! I love that you used those Crate and Barrel towels! They were PERFECT!
The tumblers and cookies I think were my fav. But if I was there, I think the popcorn would have won out! 🙂
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You killed it! This party is AWESOME! You did such an amazing job! It is literally picture perfect. I’m amazed by all you do!
Oh my gosh, I was literally smiling so much while looking at all of these photos. I wish I could have been there. You really are the party queen!! I have to ask, how do you make time to take all of the photos yourself before people get there? It seems like a lot of work, but you always do such a great job!
This was no low key party, but it is amazing. What I love most about your parties is how unselfish you are in planning. You totally made the theme all about Henry and it turned out so adorable. Have you seen the Pinterest parties where moms are throwing their 2 year old daughters parties so extravagant they look like they are for a 30 year old woman? Lol Your family photo is so cute. I just love you guys. XO
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HENRY!!!
Thank you, friend. I am totally self-aware enough to know that all the details don’t matter to Henry at all. But I do try to pick a theme that he actually likes and feels like ‘him.’ Makes me feel a little less insane.
Just a little less. 😉
Adorable!!! We had Nutty’s birthday at the park this year for the same reason – no house cleaning!! Definitely doing it again next year. 🙂 Henry is one lucky kiddo to have his mama go all out like that for him!
The park was definitely rad. But doing it all in one morning was kind of exhausting. I usually start setting up decor a week in advance. It was like Iron Chef for a two-year-old’s party. 😉
Oh how cute! Your low key is my crazy time. What a great celebration! Little Henry is lucky to have a Mommy like you 🙂
Thanks, Kristin. I really enjoy parties, so it’s a fun thing for me, too.
Holy moly what an awesome party Kim. You really out-did yourself.
Can you be my mom around my birthdays? I don’t get nearly enough personalized crafting done for my birthdays. I want a photo booth and a popcorn bar and a tractor on a stick.
Thanks, Katja. I’d be happy to be your mom for parties. Seems like a thing.
move to Texas so I can hire you to do all my parties. for realz.
also i’m totally loving the corn instead of sand station. genius.
ok, i even want a tractor party for myself now! you did a great job. Love all the details. Happy Belated Henry!
Oh my sweet heavens, Henry is darling. What an awesome party! I LOVE the tractor cookies and corn table, and the books as favors is such a cute idea! Awesome work Mama Woodward.
Adorable! I love that he has a love affair with popcorn. Thanks for the shout-out! That post was from when I first started blogging and I’m so embarrassed by it. I wish I could redo it. Kinda. Anyway. This is the cutest party and I can’t get over how fast he’s growing!
So much cuteness & goodness! My fave has to be that tractor photo prop. I sort of want one for myself. Even though my boys are way older and have never been into tractors. 😉
Angela @ Number Fifty-Three
I love it, as always. My son’s birthday is the beginning of May, and your many awesome celebrations inspired me to kick it up a notch this year. Sadly, though, your “low key” party still blows my “kicked up” party out of the water. Great job!
Are you kidding me?!! This is the cutest party and I am bookmarking to save for next year. I love all the attention to detail, especiallythe way you filled all of the baskets with goodies and the photo shots!! Thrilled to be your newest follower…
Darn you are so good. I know I’ve said before that you can plan my parties at any time 😉 I love that photo prop.
This is amazing! You are seriously the best mom ever! And the best party planner!
Adorable! Everything turned out soooo cute! This is totally low key 😉
Awesome work, momma! Only you could throw together that awesome of a party at the last minute! I love the corn table! You need to keep having sensory tables at every party you throw. It could be your “thing.”
I also use my Silhouette for many many things when doing party prep. It is my right hand man!
Best party I have EVER attended. Hats off to the most wonderful party planner on the face of this Earth!
I can’t believe he’s 2! Happy Birthday sweet Henry! He looks so much like your husband, except with your beautiful blonde hair!
Love this!! You did a great job and I love all the photos. The popcorn bar is such an awesome idea- I’m going to need to introduce B to popcorn just so we can have a popcorn bar at his 2nd birthday 🙂
Oh my goodness – this is an adorable party! There are so many wonderful details that I really couldn’t choose a favorite!
Kim you have outdone yourself! Your love for Henry is so evident in all the little touches. It takes a ton of time and thought to get all those details pulled together, clearly you enjoy it so much. I know what you mean when the pictures don’t do it justice, wish I could’ve been there to see all the awesomeness in person. Congrats.
i want to see what happens when you say “i am going all out for this party!” ha! it was all so awesome and so worth it- love how very “henry” it is!
What a cute party! Love all the details! And I have never heard of Johnny Tractor books, but looks like I might have to get a few for my little “farm” boys 🙂
Wow! That looks like the absolute perfect two year old party :). Corn table–brilliant! And I’m a little obsessed with that tractor dish towel, even as someone who is not a particular fan of tractors in general.
I love overboard! You did a stellar job and I’m sad we couldn’t be there to eat buffalo ranch popcorn. And you know, see you guys. I love the photo display and the cake in the trailer and the activities for the kiddos, you are such great little host!